Strike trio prove big miss for AFC Portchester in pre-season friendly opener defeat at Steve Claridge's Salisbury

But the Royals boss Dave Carter took some positives from a 4-1 defeat against former Pompey striker Steve Claridge's men.

New man Mikey Finch grabbed Portchester's goal as they got preparations for the 2021-22 Wessex League Premier Division season under way.

Both goalkeepers signed this summer - former Pompey stopper Leon Pitman and Matt Petts – were handed a half each to impress at Salisbury.

Meanwhile, defenders Curtis Da Costa and Sam Pearce - both recruited from Carter's former club Moneyfields - completed 90 minutes in the opening pre-season fixture.

But Carter felt his side were lacking some firepower with Wort, Roberts and Baldacchino all missing - and he's looking forward to welcoming the trio back as pre-season progresses.

The Royals boss said: ‘It was the forward line we lacked yesterday. I had no Kieron Roberts, Baldacchino and no Lee Wort, so that’s where we lacked a little bit going forward.

‘We’ll find that other the next few games and moving forward. Pre-season is about finding partnerships and what works and what doesn’t work and fitness, really.

‘They’re (Salisbury) a good outfit, it’s a test against a top-quality side.

‘We had a few missing as well, the boys who played did well, we got a good workout out of it.

‘We made mistakes for their goals but we had some good chances ourselves - it was a typical pre-season game.’