Pompey Reserves slipped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of an experienced Fulham side last night, who sit in third spot in the Avon Insurance Combination league table.

The Blues included trialists Filip Aplestav and Anthonio Sirufo, but it was record-signing striker Lee Mills, returning from long-term injury, who received the loudest cheer of the evening when he entered the fray from the subtitutes' bench for the last 30 minutes.

Their youth policy does appear to be paying dividends as two 17-year-old first year apprentices, defenders Shaun Cooper and Lewis Buxton, really took the eye with performances well above what is surely expected of them at this age.

Indeed when substituted on 70 minutes, Cooper received a round of applause from the 500-strong crowd which also matched that received by Mills ten minutes earlier.

Fulham gave early intention of what they are capable of when a shot from Eddie Lewis looked destined for the corner of the net until David Waterman somehow managed to turn it away to safety.

But a goal soon followed as Luke Cornwall had the easiest of chances to head home a superb deep cross from Lewis.

With the ever busy Carl Pettefer making probing runs, Pompey had just a couple of chances to get level, but goalkeeper Marcus Hahnnemann saved superbly from Rowan Vine, while Guy Whittingham blasted high over when well placed.

In the second half the visitors stepped up the pace and went further ahead when Paul Trollope met a corner on the volley and his effort cleared goalkeeper Andy Petterson to find the top corner of the net to seal the points.

Afterwards Mills said: "It was great to play again. When I got the injury I was told it would be March at the earliest before I could even kick a ball again. So I have to be pleased with my half-hour."