Collins Mbesuma scores his first Pompey goal

Ok it was only for the reserve team, but hopefully it's a sign of big things to come from the Zambian striker.

The goal came in the 89th minute and was only a consolation as we crashed to a 5-3 defeat against Arsenal Reserves.

As I was not there, I will have to rely on the Portsmouth Official Website for a report on the game.

Arsenal out-gunned Portsmouth in the first half, but Pompey staged a grandstand finish to take the gunners to the wire.

Lupoli put Arsenal ahead on ten minutes after a slick attacking move.

But out of the blue Pompey equalised on 17 minutes when in a rare attack Fordyce's corner was headed on my Mbesuma and Jason Pearce ghosted in to plant past the Arsenal keeper.

After a series of lightning Arsenal attacks they were ahead again on 26 minutes with a goal of simplicity. The ball was sent forward and Lupoli ran past a static Pompey defence to lob Westerveld for his and Arsenal's second.

Another good move on 33 minutes brought Arsenal's 3rd, when 3 men got involved to set up Bendtner who shot past Westerveld. The Pompey Keeper made a fine save to keep out Owusu-Abeyie, but that was a temporary abasement as a minute later Owusu-Abeyie out-paced the visitors defence and latched onto a through ball to round Westerveld and stab home.

It was a much more even second half given that Arsenal were 4-1 ahead but then on 70 minutes Lupoli outpaced Wilson who got back to dispossess him only for the referee to deem it illegal and point to the spot.

The striker picked himself up to hammer home Arsenals 5th despite Westerveld getting a firm hand to the ball. As time was being played out Pompey staged a grandstand finish. On 86 minutes, out of the blue, Viafara hammered home a shot which rocketed in off the post, then a minute later Mbesuma raced clear, and buried the ball past Mannone. 30 seconds later Viafara shot narrowly wide as suddenly Arsenal were hanging on.

Arsenal's anxiety showed as Ryan Smith received a red card for pole-axing Viafara, moments before the final whistle.

Here is how the Pompey Reserve team lined up:

Westerveld
Day - Donaghey - Silk - Pearce
Songo'o - Skopelitis - Viafara - Fordyce
Wilson - Mbseuma

Subs: Swayne, Jordan, Roberts, Settle, Cousins