It's only half-time, declared Bishop Auckland manager Kelvin Simpson as he rallied his side after their 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth in the first leg of the Under-15s English Schools Trophy final.

Bishops more than held their own against their south coast rivals, but were made to pay for missing two or three gilt-edged chances at Archibald Stadium, Durham on Wednesday night.

With the game delicately balanced, Pompey skipper Tom Roberts struck the decisive blow 17 minutes from time, connecting at the far post with man of the match Jake Thomson's perfectly measured cross.

It was cruel on Bishops after they had played their part in the tie and but for better finishing would have been travelling to the second leg with at least a goal in the bag.

"Naturally, they are disappointed but we have pointed out that it's half-time and that there is a long way to go," said Simpson, who was also joined in the dug out by Steven Hepples and Andrew Bell. "I think the lads themselves realise that they haven't performed as well and that one mistake at this level will cost them matches. Therefore I think they have got a bit of fire in their bellies now with regards to going down there and doing themselves justice."

Bishops' undoing was in part down to their inability, in the first-half especially, to shackle influential playmaker Thomson.

The cultured teenager was given time and space in the centre of the park to roam at will and was able to play in numerous penetrating balls. He was also the dead-ball specialist and his invention and accuracy caused plenty of problems.

"I think we gave their two central midfielders who had the flair too much space in the first half," Simpson said in reference to Thomson and teammate Tom Cotchin. "I think in the second-half they didn't influence the game as much because we got closer to them. That was probably the difference, they had two players who dictated play and we tended to give them too much respect."

Though delighted to have had the confines of Durham FC's ground to play on, Simpson believes that the stadium and the large and vocal home support may have played a small, but significant, part in the team's performance.

"I think the lads have looked at the venue and the crowd and have been a little bit unsettled by it. They are in the changing rooms there, a bit disappointed but I think they appreciate that it's half-time and we can certainly match Portsmouth," he said.

Ironically, when Bishops went a goal down they seemed to redouble their efforts and really put their opponents under pressure, having two penalty shouts waved away by referee Graham Laws of Whitley Bay and seeing Pompey keeper Jack Stansbridge pull off a fine last-ditch save from Mark Wood in the closing minutes.

"I think it spurred them on, to be honest," Simpson said. "I think it was a shock - they haven't conceded a goal for two rounds and I think it will actually give them the confidence that when we do go at Portsmouth we can really put them under pressure.

"We could have snatched an equaliser but I think Portsmouth probably deserved the 1-0 win tonight, I think they were more composed. They have travelled a long way and played very well. Hopefully, we'll do the same down there and put them under pressure."

Bishops captain Richard Langthorne was equally bullish when asked of his team's chances in the second leg on April 27.

"They were a good team but they were nothing flash," the big defender said. "I think if we can go down there and put a few goals past them we are definitely in with a shout of winning the trophy.

"It's a slight setback because we were hoping to score in front of our home crowd but hopefully we can go down there and win.

"It's only half time, there is a long way to go yet and I am very confident we can turn it around."