Portsmouth withstood a late Posh fightback to record a 3-2 win at the Nene Park Academy.

The Peterborough United Development team kicked off their Final Third Development League campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Portsmouth at the Nene Park Academy.

Posh found themselves 3-0 down going into the last quarter of an hour, but a spirited fightback saw Gary Breen's men reduce the arrears with goals from Jack Friend and Grant McCann.

The visitors opened the scoring through Miles Storey who finished from 12-yards after defender Palmer was harshly adjudged to have handled after goalkeeper Grant, who is on trial at London Road, denied Agyemang.

Posh created a few chances before the break with Tye Phillips and Kenny McEvoy both going close. However, in the second period, the visitors doubled their advantage as Barcham nodded home at the back post following a quickly taken free-kick.

The game looked over at 3-0 as Close finished off a classy Portsmouth move, interlinking well with the powerful Agyemang before poking past Grant.

Posh were awarded a penalty kick when one of the club's young trialists was felled in the box, but skipper Grant McCann chipped his penalty over the bar.

Substitute Jack Friend reduced the arrears with a curling left-foot shot from 20-yards on 75 minutes and on 82 minutes, McCann set up a nervy finish with a piledriver from 25-yards.

McEvoy saw a shot cleared off the line as Posh pressed for an equaliser, but it as not to be as Pompey held out for the win.

Posh: Grant, Palmer, Luto, Marshall, Ward, H. Anderson, McCann, Hood, De Silva-Lopes (sub trialist 60min), Phillips (sub Friend 60min), McEvoy.

Portsmouth: Poke, Davies, Close, Webster, Field, Maloney, Butler, Granger, Agyemang, Storey, Barcham.