Creeksiders stroll to comfortable Laverstock victory
By Connor Steel
FAREHAM TOWN bounced back quickly from their tough weekend derby and moved into the next stage of the Wessex League Cup as they travelled to Laverstock & Ford on Tuesday evening; comfortably beating their divisional rivals by a four-nil margin following this ‘highly dominant and efficient away performance’ despite the freezing winter temperatures.
The Creeksiders began brightly as Troy Wingfield broke into space on the left side and crossed into Josh Benfield; who was unable to really test the home goalkeeper Lewis Gunstone-Gray on four minutes. This was soon followed by a fine opportunity for the hosts as a big through-ball found Lewis Wakeford and he was brilliantly denied by Declan McCarthy.
A goal was coming and it finally arrived on fourteen minutes as Charlie Cooper fed Wingfield on the overlap; the latter’s jinxing run finding Elliot Holmes to stroke home the Fareham opener. Stan Bridgeman went close to doubling their lead shortly afterwards before Cam Roach forced another stubborn parry from McCarthy diving well to his far left hand stick.
Benfield and Cooper saw good chances for the Creeksiders as they began to assert control on proceedings; which was rewarded on 38 minutes when Holmes let fly a lovely finish into the top corner for two-nil. Frustrations then appeared to boil over in the last minute of added time with Keiron Clark and Archie Lovegrove involved in a ‘scuffle’ of two bookings.
Laverstock had their best period of good pressure immediately after the restart as they saw some decent possession in attacking areas; Roach soon breaking clear and flashing his attempt wide off target. Another huge opportunity was then wasted on the hour mark as the Fareham keeper punched a corner onto the path of their attacker who lashed just over.
But the hosts were soon rueing missed opportunities as Fareham netted the third goal with style in a similar move from the first half; Wingfield running through using an overlap and finding Benfield to fire home past the keeper. This made it three-nil and prompted the 2 managers to make substitutes with important league games scheduled over the weekend.
Frustrated tackles further added to a lull for proceedings with Cameron Primus having to be substituted after picking up a strong defensive effort, which was their only negative as Fareham dominated the ball. And they took full advantage of tiring legs as they added their fourth in stoppage time; Jamie Truckell calmly firing home a cut-back from Sam Kessack.
This result continues a brilliant run in knockout matches this season for Fareham, although they will have to wait to find out their opponents in the next round. Attentions should now turn to the league as the third-placed Creeksiders are due to host Baffins Milton Rovers on Saturday afternoon, before they visit AFC Stoneham to finish this month of November.
PICTURED BY FAREHAM TOWN MEDIA: The away winger attempts to break through two defenders in freezing skies.
