Salisbury City finished their last pre-season match with a 2-1 victory against a youthful Portsmouth side in the glorious sunshine at Old Sarum.

A thunderous strike from Stuart Sinclair on 40 minutes and Chris McPhee’s clever flick-on three minutes later put clear daylight between the hosts and the visitors at half-time.

But despite conceding a soft penalty in the 81st minute which Jack Compton neatly tucked away, City hung on tight to secure the win.

The Whites will now be gearing up for their first game of the new season against AFC Hornchurch next Saturday (August 18: 3pm) at the Ray Mac.

The hosts made a sharp start in the early proceedings, as two chances fell to youngster Theo Lewis who got himself in good positions, but drilled his efforts agonisingly wide of each post.

Then the best move of the first-half dropped kindly to Sinclair inside 17 minutes from Chris McPhee’s lay-off, but his dipping volley was saved by Portsmouth’s trialist keeper Jordan Santiago at full-stretch.

An extremely young and inexperienced Pompey side showed glimpses of promising signs when Compton forced two good stops from Willem Puddy.

The Whites should have turned the pressure into a opening goal when Ryan Brett stabbed wide from Sinclair’s looming cross.

But City took a well-deserved lead in the 40th minute as Sinclair unleashed a 25-yard rocket into the roof of the net.

And just three minutes later the hosts netted their second of the afternoon, courteous of McPhee directing home Sinclair’s driven cross.

Haf-time: Whites 2-0 Pompey

Whites’ nearly increased the deficit as Michael Uwezu rattled the woodwork with a deep cross and Fitchett walked past the Pompey defence and blasted straight into the body of Santiago .

Fitchett was gifted another chance to capitalise when he tricked his way into the area but saw his shot blocked.

Then moments later, Sinclair teed up Uwezu inside the area but missed the target with a low-range attempt.

Against the run of play the visitors were offered a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty after Compton’s effort appeared to have struck the arm of Robbie Matthews. Compton, who was the leading the way in Pompey’s midfield, kept his cool and buried the spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.

And in the 84th minute, Andy Higgins nearly completed an instant comeback but his spectacular effort was denied by the upright.

Whites XI: Puddy (Scott 45), Udoji (Clark 66), Clarke, Hart, Brett (Matthews 45), Fitchett, Dutton (c), Sinclair, Lewis (Uwezu 45), McPhee (Baggridge 66) , White.

Scorers: Stuart Sinclair (40), Chris McPhee (43), Jack Compton (81)

Att: 554