Ciftci double helps earn ressie win

Nadir Ciftci sent a timely reminder to Steve Cotterill that he is still around with a couple of goals in a reserve win over Farnborough last night.

A fairly strong side cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win at The Rushmore Stadium.

The full report, from The Pompey Site, is below...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

Farnborough 0 Pompey 3
by Johnny Moore at the Rushmore Stadium

Second-half strikes from Nadir Ciftci (2) and Carl Walshe saw Pompey overcome plucky Farnborough.

The Blues side - which included Darryl Flahavan, Ibrahima Sonko and Richard Hughes - created little in a listless first half but came good after the break to beat the Blue Square Bet South side.

Perry Ryan had to be alert early on to stop Kezie Ibe from latching onto a through ball as the hosts had the first sniff of an opportunity.

Farnborough looked the more threatening side and Jack King went close with a thumping shot that flew just wide.

And the one-way traffic continued with Dale Binns sending a header inches past the post.

Lewis Tallack and Sonko then got in a muddle with the former slamming the ball against the latter in an attempt to clear.

The resulting corner flashed across the face of Pompey`s goal with no Farnborough player able to get a decisive touch.

Flahavan was then called into action, making a smart save to deny Paul Booth and keep the scores level.

Pompey finally threatened towards the end of the half when Sonko guided a header narrowly wide.

First-half chances had been at a premium but Farnborough should have broken the deadlock just before the interval.

Booth had the goal at his mercy when he met Binns' cross but could not find the target with his header.

Half Time: Farnborough 0 Pompey 0

The hosts had the first decent chance of the second half when substitutes Dean McDonald and Bradley Bubb combined, but the latter could only send his shot straight into Flahavan's arms.

Instead it was Pompey who opened the scoring on 53 minutes. WALSHE latched onto Hughes' incisive pass and clinically finished past Farnborough keeper Michael Jordan.

The Blues suddenly looked brighter and Ciftci almost added a second, bursting past Nic Ciardini before sliding a shot wide.

CIFTCI did find the target on 68 minutes, however, heading home after Hughes had rounded Jordan and sent a cross towards the Dutch striker.

Farnborough went close to reducing the deficit but Flahavan made a fine save to keep out McDonald's low strike.

Ciftci shot over and Ryan Williams was denied by Jordan as Pompey went in search of a third goal.

And it arrived at the death when CIFTCI floated a delightful shot over Jordan and the ball nestled in the net.

Pompey: Flahavan; Tallack (Antelmi 46), Sonko, Ryan, Grant (Seeley 46); Gregory, Goddard, Hughes (c), Martin; Ciftci, Walshe (Williams 58)
Subs not used: Gledhill, Bennett, Stockford, Tsovolos

Farnborough: Jordan (Jean-Zephirin 46), Stevens (Challinor 46), Sankofa (Ciardini 64), Conroy, Braham-Barrett, Price (Bubb 46), King, McMahon (c), Binns, Booth (McDonald 46), Ibe (Thomas 64)

Referee: Matt Eva

Attendance: 374

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