Fareham finish losing streak with Lymington victory
By Connor Steel
FAREHAM TOWN completed their first league success in over eight weeks as they made the journey to visit Lymington Town on Saturday afternoon; marginally beating their struggling opponents one-nil in a ‘closely-fought’ Wessex Premier encounter at the Sports Ground to end a successive losing streak of five matches in all competitions since October 17.
The Creeksiders started the brighter under grey skies and used a slick surface to their advantage; creating the opening chance after eight minutes when captain Lewis Colvin fired harmlessly over the crossbar from range. This was followed by penalty appeals as Dave Vincent looked to be tugged down in the box; the large protest turned away by the officials.
Lymington soon won a couple of corners and set pieces as the visitors dominated possession but both sides lacked the final touch or pass to make the desired impact. This was summed up in the twenty-second minute when a perfect cross found Vincent running through, only for the ball to bounce away off the striker’s leg and was gratefully hacked to safety.
Joe Johnson forced the home keeper into his first save after thirty-one minutes before Charlie Cooper went even closer moments later; the right winger curling over of his opposite corner under pressure. Down the other end Lymington were looking good on the ‘counter attack’ and should have scored before the break only for Jordi Valero to deny the attacker.
It took just sixty seconds for Fareham to break the deadlock in the second half as they won a free kick; which was soon brilliantly worked to find Vincent and the lurking striker nodded home into the corner. The visitors then saw a number of attempts to double their lead through Harley Stock and Cooper; both efforts sadly being dragged wide of the near post.
The home team weathered this pressure and should have equalised on sixty-eight from a corner that was nodded wide by their on-rushing centre back; whilst multiple corners were superbly defended by the Fareham defenders. A series of substitutions then followed across the two sides going into the last twenty minutes; signalling a long lull in proceedings.
A huge chance for Lymington arrived in the seventy-ninth minute when slick interplay released their striker and he fired narrowly wide of the far past with Valero beaten; proving to be their final opening of the match. In contrast Johnson and Ethan Quinlan went close for Fareham in the last five minutes; but to no avail as the visitors held on for this crucial win.
The three points mean that Graham Rix’s side move up to thirteenth in the table after other results and postponements on Saturday; their future league encounter seeing them host Moneyfields next weekend (16/12) at Cams Alders. In the meantime they will again travel to Lymington on Wednesday night as the two teams clash in the Russell Cotes Cup tie.
PICTURED BY FAREHAM TOWN MEDIA: Lymington defenders and goalkeeper try their best to stop a drive on target.
