A break in the South West Counties Cup programme forced the Royal Navy football team to continue preparations for the Inter-Services fixtures with a friendly against HM Prison Service at Burnaby Road in Portsmouth.

A bright afternoon produced an entertaining and open game, with the Navy maintaining dominance throughout – a good indication that the squad is beginning to gel as a unit.

The Prison Service team played with five men strung across midfield in an attempt to smother the game, but crisp passing from CPOPT Steve Riley (HMS Neptune) and LPT Davy Wilson (HMS Glasgow) regularly opened up the visitors, creating a host of chances which were spurned

An early injury to CPO Barclay (HMS Neptune) introduced player-coach CCWEA Steve Johnson to the fray, bringing age and experience to the back four – although perhaps not necessarily pace...

Despite their dominance, the Servicemen failed to find the net in the first half, and so began the second half with an urgency that detracted from the free-flowing style before the break.

It took 20 minutes for the Navy to settle down, and the experience of captain Steve Riley was the key motivator in getting the team to play good passing football.

Riley himself created the best chance of the half, firing a crossfield pass to MEM Foxy Foxhall (HMS Sultan) and meeting the winger’s cross with a powerful header which was well saved by Prison goalkeeper Hargreaves.

The keeper was left helpless minutes later when Riley went even closer, shaking the visitors’ bar with a powerful header from a corner.

The dominance had to tell eventually, and the navy took a deserved lead with a well-crafted goal.

Swift passing between Foxhall and Wilson released Wilson to the byline, and the PTI’s swiftly-whipped cross was met at the near post by first-half substitute LOM Tickle (HMS Nelson), whose header flew into the bottom corner.

The goal galvanised the visitors rather than the Navy, and it was the Prison Service who created three good chances in the last ten minutes, almost stealing a draw.

But the sailors hung on to win 1-0, with keeper OM Jamie McGall (HMS Newcastle) making a fine save to deny Tomlinson in the last minute.

The visitors had Price sent off in the last few seconds for dissent.

Manager CPO Neil Frame was pleased with the performance, but noted that the finishing would have to be more clinical in the remaining Cup games and the Inter-Services matches.

RN team (4-4-2): McGall, Groundsell (RMSM), Barclay (Johnson 15), Riley, Weatherall (AFCO Portsmouth), Lister (HMS Collingwood), Wilson, Young (HMS Collingwood), Hope (RM Stonehouse), Allen (HMS Sultan)(Tickle 40), Foxhall.

The second match of the Navy’s South West Counties Cup campaign saw the sailors host group favourites Gloucestershire at Yeovilton on a damp evening in Somerset.

A strong Naval XI worked hard against well-drilled opponents in another fast-flowing game.

CAEA Nigel Thwaites (HMS Seahawk), who returned to the side, was the military team’s biggest threat in the first half, going close on three occasions with shots from the edge of the area.

Neil Mustoe of Gloucester City posed just as big a threat to the Navy’s defence, forcing keeper Jamie McGall into two close-range saves as the half ended.

The second half began with the Navy on the defensive as the visitors forced the pace, and McGall was again in action, making three saves from Mustoe.

The sailors slowly hauled themselves back into the match by wresting control of the midfield, with PTs Davy Wilson and Nick Haigh (HMS Edinburgh) grafting away to open up the visitors’ defence.

Their industry created a couple of chances which were scrambled clear by the county side’s stout defence, and a strong claim for a penalty was turned down when Thwaites, released by Wilson, appeared to be tripped.

The sides continued to battle it out, but the two keepers remained assured and the 0-0 result was a fair reflection of the match.

RN team (4-4-2): McGall, Craddock (HMS Sultan), Price (CTCRM), O’Neill (HMS Caledonia), Carr (Northwood), Preston (HMS Newcastle) (Groundsell 45), Lister (HMS Collingwood), Haigh, Wilson, Thwaites, Allen (HMS Sultan)(Bochenski (45 Cdo) 65). Sub not used: Johnson.