Fareham continue outstanding start with USP win
By Connor Steel
FAREHAM TOWN continued their “outstanding” opening to this ongoing 2024-25 Wessex Premier as they completed a comfortable away success against United Services Portsmouth (USP); easily beating their opponents three-one after a professional overall performance throughout this ninety minutes at The Victory Stadium in front of 117 fans on Tuesday.
The Creeksiders made a bright start under dry skies and won themselves a penalty within just eight minutes as Connor Underhill was tripped inside the box; the spot kick tucked home by Sam Woodward into the corner for 1-0. But USP did equalise moments later when Will Ayre’s cross was misjudged and squirmed under the legs of Jordi Valero into the net.
Proceedings appeared to move into a scrappy midfield battle and Fareham were able to break through after seventeen minutes; Woodward linking up with Matt Pates before striking the far post. The Creeksiders weren’t rueing their missed opportunity though as they scored their second through Harvey Aston who nodded home a header into the right corner.
Cam Sullivan volleyed against the right post after 31 minutes and this was followed by Henri Graham’s shot that drifted narrowly over from twenty yards moment later as Fareham pushed for a 3rd goal. Down the other end USP went close through Jimmy Walter’s low effort and earnt a series of corners, which were all cleared by the defence before half time.
Away momentum continued upon the restart with Ash Tattersall doing brilliantly to run inside the USP and play the one-two with Josh Benfield; the final shot being blocked by Tyler Burns and then cleared away to safety. Graham further hit an ‘ambitious’ attempt harmlessly over the crossbar on fifty minutes after linking up with Pates and Benfield in the area.
Valero managed to punch a header wide in a neat USP attack as the visitors managed to keep out a series of diagonal balls forward; Walters slicing over the bar with the angled effort before he was replaced from the bench. This prompted both teams to make a series of substitutions as this match entered a lull that was not helped by a short injury stoppage.
Fareham’s third goal finally arrived with twenty minutes left when home left back Taylor Crook gave a bad pass away in a dangerous area; Charlie Cooper taking full advantage as he nestled just inside the bottom left corner for 3-1. And this was how it remained at the final whistle as the Creeksiders resisted the temptations in their ‘expert exhibition’ of tactics.
The latest 3 points means that Fareham have now won six straight matches and move up to third position in the league table after eight matches; although other sides have played less games around them. However their attentions will now turn to cup action as they host Cowes Sports in the FA Vase on Saturday, and then a visit to Baffins on Tuesday (PSC).
PICTURED BY FAREHAM TOWN MEDIA: Away attacker gets a shot on target despite all efforts of multiple defenders.
