Swashbuckling Pompey down Pirates

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The Blues were roared on by a raucous 17,998-strong crowd and the Fratton Park noise level shot up a level when Adam Webster swept home beautifully from the edge of the Rovers box in the 11th minute.

But the visitors hit back 11 minutes later when Matt Harrold’s close-range effort deflected off Bondz N’Gala and crept past Pompey goalkeeper Trevor Carson and into the bottom corner.

Both sides enjoyed further chances in a pulsating opening period, but the Blues edged ahead again five minutes before the break. Danny Hollands’ strike from just outside the Rovers box found its way past keeper Steve Mildenhall with the aid of a deflection from Ryan Taylor.

The home side’s advantage lasted only a minute as Harrold headed home Lee Brown’s cross from the left from six yards out.

But Portsmouth dominated the second half and claimed a vital, fourth straight win when Wes Fogden touched home Taylor’s knock-back from the byline in the 70th minute.