Benjani Scores Twice- HONEST!

Dorchester 1 (Groves 49)
Pompey 3 (Johnson 29, Benjani 74 & 86)

After Monday`s disappointing 3-1 defeat to Havant and Waterloovile a strong Pompey side travelled to Dorset on Tuesday evening for the game with Dorchester, who fielded former Pompey player Terry Parker.

Following goals at the weekend, Glen Johnson and Benjani (two!!!) scored yet again as Pompey recorded a 3-1 victory.

Having the best of the early exchanges, Dorchester had chances to take the lead through Matt Groves (a former Pompey trialist) and Guy Lopez, but neither could beat Dean Kiely, Lopez succeeding in only putting his effort wide of the target.

Matty Taylor, looking to emulate his wonder strike against Sunderland last season tried his luck again with a clever long ranged lobbed effort, but an anxious Richard Martin, who would prove to be a busy man this evening, was able to save.

As Pompey put their foot down, with Benjani, and Lomana LuaLua attempting cut backs, but just failing in doing so, it was Johnson who opened the scoring with his second goal for the club, following up his strike at Bournemouth with an even better one. His curling 29th minute effort beating Martin into the top right hand corner of the goal.

A good save was needed by Martin to prevent LuaLua doubling the lead, with Sean Davis just unable to turn in the rebound. Rocket man, Pedro Mendes looking to celebrate his new contract by getting in on the scoring act curled the last meaningful effort of the half over.

Dorchester found themselves level soon after half time, Groves proving too strong as he beat the defence to shot past Kiely in the 49th minute.

LuaLua, proving a menace for Dorchester, had an effort saved before setting up Taylor, who could only put his effort over.

Another Taylor effort was saved before Benjani restored Pompey`s lead in the 74th minute. With an attack from Dorchester broken down, LuaLua`s fine ball allowing the Zimbabwean to round Martin and slide the ball home.

Martin denied Johnson his second, a wonderful 40-yard run ending with another fine save from the man between the Dorchester sticks.

Victory was guaranteed as Benjani coolly applied the finishing touch to Taylor`s set up, to score his second of the match, and third in two games in the 86th minute.

With Pompey being in control for the most part, the game proved another good workout, and decent display ahead of Friday`s trip to face former boss Jim Smith`s Conference outfit Oxford United.

Dean Kiely
Glen Johnson
Dejan Stefanovic
Trialist
Noe Pamarot
Richard Duffy (Svetoslav Todorov 70)
Matty Taylor
Pedro Mendes
Sean Davis
Lomana LuaLua
Benjani

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