Report by Ben Davis

Pompey produced their best performance of the season against Premiership side Wimbledon, who had recently beaten scumpton 3-1, but a goal for them meant Pompey had to bow out of the Coca Cola Cup. Fenwick decided to play Bradbury on his own up front with Perrett coming in for Hall, who has been pretty disappointing lately.
Wimbledon pushed forward first ending with Clark pulling a shot from the edge of the area wide. Pompey then put on the pressure with McLoughlin and Carter causing several problems in the visitor's defence.
Wimbledon were using their long ball game and it almost gave the London club the lead when Perrett's back pass wasn't strong enough and £5 million rated Holdsworth was denied by Flahavan.
Then Wimbledon were lucky not to be down to ten men when Bradbury muscled his way ahead of Perry from Simpson's pass. Perry brought down the striker from the Isle of Wight but referee Martin Bodenham didn't even give the free-kick.
Wimbledon were camped in their own half with Pompey battling away in search of the elusive goal which would level things up overall. Carter was one of the players working his socks off and he used his skill to get to the by-line and create another chance which should have been buried. The pull back was met by Russell who's shot was blocked and it well to Bradbury total unmarked on the six-yard line. However, his inexperience told when he went for the curler and the ball bounced wide.
Another scramble on the edge of Wimbledon's box ended with McLoughlin picking up Gayle's poor control and firing in a left foot shot which Sullivan reached up and caught.
Andy Turner was also impressing and it was his brilliant turn on the half-way line which sent Pompey surging forward again. The former Spurs man played a perfect ball to Bradbury running into the area and he went for the top corner and missed.
It seemed Pompey were in for frustrating night but four minutes before half-time Pompey took a deserved lead. Simpson's ball up the left flank was controlled by Bradbury who touched it on to Turner who in turn found McLoughlin on the right. He knocked it square to Carter who fired in a shot from 20-yards and a horrible deflection carried it past Sullivan.
The visitor's quickly went up the other end and Awford's high foot on Fear gave Wimbledon a free-kick 20-yards out. Jones rolled it to the disappointing Holdsworth who's low shot went just wide.
Wimbledon made a change before the second half got underway with Leonhardsen coming on for Holdsworth. Pompey then got the start then didn't want as Wimbledon drew level. Perrett, who had done well since that back pass, kicked the ball out for a corner. Kimble whipped it in with his left foot and Blackwell's headed was faintly flicked onto the post by Earle and the rebound gifted it self to Gayle to slammed it in.
Pompey knowing they had it all to do now and were certain they had a penalty when Fear handled Turner's cross but again Bodenham wasn't interested and so nothing was given.
It was becoming increasingly hard to get past Wimbledon's defence and for all Pompey's battling they were finding it hard to create anything. Turner then tried his luck from long range and his deflected shot went just over.
That was to be the winger's last effort as he came off to a warm reception for Hall. His first touch was almost a goal as he used his pace to great effect in the 83rd minute. He latched onto Awford's ball over the top and his shot in the area was heading goal bound when it was put out for a corner. The little striker was at it again five minutes later and this time he was bundled over in the area but like all the other shouts nothing was given.
In the last few minutes Pompey were caught on the break twice and on the first instance they were grateful to Flahavan. Leonhardsen got in a fierce 20-yarder which Flahavan superbly flicked around the post for a corner.
Gayle then received the ball in acres of space but his finish was very poor and Flahavan was really trouble.
It was a performance though which showed just how good Pompey can play and if they play the same at Oxford on Saturday then there could be three points in the bag.