Fareham maintain great form with Hamble success
By Connor Steel
FAREHAM TOWN maintained their brilliant recent form within this Wessex Premier Division as they travelled to second place Hamble Club on Saturday afternoon; comprehensively beating their ten-men opponents four-two after the hugely enjoyable game that was ultimately decided by one moment in front of a loud crowd under cold sunshine at The Abbey.
The Creeksiders started quickly and forced home goalkeeper Henry Newman into three brilliant saves before taking an early lead after ten minutes; Charlie Cooper breaking down the right and feeding Sam Woodward to slice home. It may have been two-nil seconds later when similar link-ups eventually landed at the feet of Charlie Cole, but he blasted over.
Hamble responded with a spell of great possession and took full advantage of sloppy defending to equalise on thirteen minutes through Bob Tudway, who converted Braydon Douglas’ cross at the far post with his deft finish. Chances soon fell for Matthew Casey and Leo Taylor in quick succession, but neither shot were enough to fully test Declan McCarthy.
Proceedings reached the half hour stage without further incidents as the teams appeared to cancel each other out in a midfield battle; which was broken when Woodward’s powerful attempt was parried away on thirty-eight minutes. Casey further nodded inches over the crossbar down the other end as Hamble closed the gaps to reach the break level at 1-1.
A quieter period awaited upon the second half restart with neither defence “giving anything away” and reducing notable openings for the attackers, which led to frustrations particularly amongst the home side. And in a huge match changing moment on 61 minutes, James Johnson was given a second yellow card with Bradley Johnson then sent to the sin bin.
It took just four minutes for Fareham to score their second goal as they won a free kick in a good position; Dan Bennett burying a header into the top corner. Substitutions followed for both teams before a third goal arrived for the away team on 69 minutes; which came as incisive interplay released Connor Underhill and the winger fired into the far right corner.
Great defending prevented Casey from netting as it was pushed off the line and gave Fareham a neat platform for their killer fourth goal; Underhill easily slamming inside the net at close range. There was time for a late Hamble consolation on 88 minutes as Bradley Johnson tapped home after returning from the sin bin but it proved too little, too late for them.
These three points mean that Fareham are now second in the table after nine matches and sit only three points behind local rivals Portchester who beat Sherborne Town on Saturday. The Creeksiders now play two home games in the next fortnight as they look to keep pace with the leaders; first hosting Christchurch on 05/10 and then Millbrook a week later.
PICTURED BY BEN (YOUR FAREHAM): Visitors prepare to restart play with a “throw-in” during match versus Hamble.
