Saturday 11 August 2018 20:14, UK
Ronan Curtis scored twice as Portsmouth made it back-to-back wins to start the season with a 2-1 victory at Blackpool.
The Seasiders almost stunned the visitors inside the opening 20 seconds as Joe Dodoo swivelled on a low cross into the box and his shot cannoned back off the near post.
But it was Portsmouth who took the lead in the ninth minute. Oli Hawkins flicked a header on and Curtis wriggled away from the Blackpool defence before slotting the ball under goalkeeper Mark Howard.
Curtis carried the biggest first-half threat, seeing a goalbound shot blocked by Ben Heneghan on the half-hour mark before his 25-yard strike hit the inside of a post.
And he grabbed his and Portsmouth's second on the hour. It was a carbon copy of the first as Hawkins flicked on and Curtis broke clear to smash a shot through Howard's legs.
The Seasiders sparked a potential comeback eight minutes from time as a long ball forward was lifted over goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray and in via a combination of Mark Cullen and defender Matt Clarke.
Cullen had the ball in the net in added time, but an equaliser was ruled out for offside.
