Fareham overwhelm Sherborne for five goal success

By Connor Steel

FAREHAM TOWN FC made it eight successive victories to start their new Wessex Premier campaign as they played Sherborne Town on Saturday afternoon (September 26); comfortably winning by the five-nil margin after an excellent all round performance that was sampled by a passionately loud crowd of 372 fans within the ‘autumnal’ Cams Alders.

It was a rapid start for Fareham under bright sunshine with Connor Duffin heading just over before they took the lead after twelve minutes; Dan Sibley curling a lovely effort past Jack Marshall inside his near corner for one-nil. A second goal followed minutes later when Matt Pates played a ball to this box and Dan Bennett simply guided a header home.

Sherborne were still threatening on occasion and could have scored as a free kick was met by Josh Williams, whose firm header was brilliantly denied by Declan McCarthy before the ball was hacked away to safety. Fareham used this chance as momentum and did net their third goal on thirty-minutes as Duffin headed into the net following Pates’ ball.

Pates saw a drive denied via Marshall as the Creeksiders continued to dominate attacking play; Marley Ridge further having penalty appeals turned down after he went down under pressure. But all frustrations were ended as Fareham made it four-nil before this interval when Sibley reacted to Harvey Aston’s delivery and he made no errors finishing it.

Proceedings restarted with Sherborne pushing forward and they saw another opportunity as Anth Herrin got clear on goal, but had a low attempted pushed away and Bennett cleared his rebound on fifty-two minutes. A yellow card was then shown to Lewis Waterfield for a foul with a resulting free-kick proving no danger to the organised home defence.

Substitutions followed with Henri Graham entering the fray and he nearly had a quick impact as the ball found Sibley, who saw his shot saved in search for a hat-trick as Duffin missed a follow up at close range. However a fifth goal did follow quickly with yet another headed finish; this time by Stan Bridgeman after Joe Ryan’s inch-perfect floated cross.

A slight lull of attacking intensity was ended on seventy-nine minutes as Graham latched onto a long ball and had an effort hit the post before being gathered by Marshall; Sherborne curling it over minutes later. There was further a late red card for Fareham as Lewis Colvin elbowed an away player; the moment being an only negative part of a fine win.

The Creeksiders maintain their position at this summit with a perfect score of twenty-four points from eight fixtures to date, whilst they also have games in hands over their ‘closest challengers’ in second place. Their next match will see them travel the short distance to play Fleetlands FC this Tuesday (7:45pm) for a local tie at Powder Monkey Stadium.

PICTURED BY FAREHAM TOWN FC MEDIA: Dan Sibley has a low shot on goal through the legs of away defending.