Nathan Doyle plays 70 minutes in dev squad draw
A Town dev squad side containing three Youth Team players held an experienced Portsmouth side to a 2-2 draw in their second Final Third Development League fixture of the campaign.
Hatters new signing Nathan Doyle also came through 71 minutes of action whilst winger Shaun Whalley completed 90 minutes and found the target as the Town twice came from behind to earn a point.
Pompey, fielding experienced trio Andy Barcham, Nigel Atangana and Nicky Shorey, took the lead in the sixth minute when Andy Barcham found space in the penalty area to beat Elliot Justham.
Whalley called home stopper Michael Poke into action before Justham kept out a stinging drive from Atangana.
The chances kept coming with Charlie Walker denied by Poke before Walker levelled for the Town on 27 minutes when the striker’s low shot found the target.
Walker then spurned a chance to put the Town ahead moments later when heading over the crossbar.
That missed proved crucial as Pompey regained the lead moments before the break when Atangana converted Miles Storey’s left-wing cross.
After the interval, Justham did well to prevent Storey’s effort but the Town levelled matters once more when Whalley was upended in the box and the winger brushed himself down to rifle home the subsequent spot-kick.
Both sides came close in the final stages, with Whalley having the Hatters’ best effort before Justham had the final say by stopping defender Adam Webster’s last-gasp drive.
TOWN: Justham, Justin, Brown (sub Maguraushe 5), Doyle (sub Amadi 71), Perry, Whalley, Rees, Andoh, McGhan-George, Walker, Lafayette. Subs not used: King, Galliford.