ANDY Melville praised Oxford United’s young guns for taking their opportunity despite the side losing 2-1 to Ports-mouth in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last night.

There were three teenagers in the starting line-up and Josh Ruffels, Callum O’Dowda and Ryan Williams all played their part as the energetic hosts controlled the first half.

But a failure to score before the break proved costly and Portsmouth went up a gear when Patrick Agyemang came off the bench to score a classy opener.

John Marquis added a second before James Constable pulled a goal back late on.

It was a third successive home defeat for the U’s, but Melville was encouraged by the teen trio.

The first-team coach said: “It was a very positive night for the young lads.

“We’ve been talking about it for a while now. They have been doing great in training and in the development games.

“They have come through it and can hold their heads up really high.

“They’ve had an opportunity and taken it.”

Constable gave United hope in the closing stages with his third goal of the season.

The striker felt the opening 45 minutes was the best the team had put together at the Kassam Stadium all season.

He said: “I would say so – we dominated a very good side.

“Maybe we should have had one or two goals and I think that would have killed them off and we would have gone on and won it comfortably.”