Report by Ben Davis

Alan McLoughlin scored his first goal of the season and Swindon will say that it shouldn't have counted. The referee's assistant (yes it's stupid isn't it) told Swindon Sub Steve Finney that he made a mistake by not flagging when McLoughlin scored. Obviously that didn't cheer Steve McMahon up who's side lost a game they should have done better in.
Flahavan was again in goal while Butters still wasn't fit so Dobson continued after he did well against Port Vale.
Swindon started brightly with Thorn immediately putting Pethick under pressure and for his trouble's Pompey's right back was injured whilst halting Thorn going any further. After 9 minutes Horlock got in a shot which went over and at this point there wasn't much between the two sides.
Pompey though began to take control with Turner looking a little more active on the left and it was his chipped effort which just went over in the 15th minute. Two minutes later Pompey created their best chance when Hall used his pace to get into the penalty area. Burton was well placed square of in but Hall's pass was behind him and the chance was gone.
Hall was again to quick for Swindon when he intercepted an awful throw and raced into the area but fired a shot straight at Talia in Swindon's goal.
Pompey continued where they left off but the final ball wasn't good enough and Burton failed to meet crosses from Turner and Carter.
Swindon then got back into the game and mainly through former scummer Mark Walters who gave Pethick lots of problems. He gave him the slip and got into the area and drilled a shot across the face of Flahavan's goal.
Walters then created Swindon's best chance in the 62nd minute. He got in a pin point cross which Horlock met with a firm header which Flahavan instinctively saved. The rebound fell perfectly to Cowe on the six-yard line but Awford somehow headed his goal bound shot off the line and over for a corner.
The home side's luck was out again when Thorn rose high to meet Watson's ball into the box. The ball looped up and bounced on top of the cross bar. It looked as though Swindon were going to score sooner or later but the scoring was in their area.
Turner fought hard to win a corner off Darras which Carter swung in. Horlock headed it out only to Turner who headed back and McLoughlin, with his back to goal, headed the ball back towards the corner of the net. While he celebrated the Swindon players were appealing for offside and video evidence clearly shows the McLoughlin was well offside.
For all Pompey cared it was a priceless goal and if forced Swindon to bring on Allison up front. The back three of Awford, Russell and Pethick worked hard to keep Pompey in the lead and the blues almost made it two when Turner took advantage of Darras's poor control and his shot was well tipped over by Talia.
The win moved Pompey up to tenth with Pompey taking ten points from their first six games and so if they keep this up they could be well positioned come Christmas.