Moneyfields punish sorry Fareham in derby
By Connor Steel
FAREHAM TOWN suffered another heavy league defeat as they hosted Moneyfields on Saturday afternoon, sliding to a five-nil thrashing against their local postcode opponents in unseasonably warm conditions. But it was a disappointing home performance from the Creeksiders who cannot argue with the result; an early red card coinciding with a ruthless hat trick from ex-Portchester and Gosport striker Ryan Pennery setting a tone for a second half of game management tactics as the stylish visitors continued their rise up the division table.
There were two debutants for Fareham in the shape of centre forward Eder Batista and Czech midfielder Jan Blazicek as the hosts dominated the early possession, but found themselves trailing after seven minutes in a first away attack. It came as a low pass found Pennery through on goal and he made little mistakes rounding outrushing Fareham keeper Luke Deacon before sliding home into the bottom right corner from a tight angle for one-nil; Moneyfields also seeing an effort from Declan Seiden cleared safely away in the eleventh minute.
Moneyfields kept pushing and deservedly doubled their lead after 15 minutes as they won a set-piece, which was floated inside the area causing much panic from the Fareham defenders; the ball bouncing around as it fell to Harry Sargeant who gratefully smashed home inside the corner at close range for 2-0. In response the Creeksiders had their first chance as Dan Bennett was fouled in a central position, the resulting low free kick tipped around the post by away keeper Dylan Kramer with the following corner easily cleared away to safety.
Things worsened in the 23rd minute as Bennett made a poor attempt in stopping Pennery on a quick counter attack and was shown a straight red card for his tackle; this arguably harsh decision killing home momentum when they needed it most. And Moneyfields took full advantage of this decision when they made it three after 34 minutes as Pennery converted a fine pass down the channels; Deacon denying shots by both Seidon and Elliott Turnbull in quick succession whilst Charlie Cooper saw his low attempt blocked just before the interval.
Even a first half substitution of Ash Tattersall didn’t stem the waves as the second period began, Moneyfields seeing multiple chances to add the 4th as a looped header cleared the crossbar and another slick move saw Pennery flick wide of the far post from twelve yards. Down the other end Fareham saw their best spell of this game with Connor Underhill finding some improved service and he cut inside before slicing wide before firing straight at Kramer on 57 minutes; the away side responding with a lobbed 20-yard that brushed the crossbar.
A fourth goal finally arrived for Moneyfields on sixty-seven minutes when Pennery broke into space down the right side, the striker beating two defenders and converting an effort off the post to clinch his brilliant hat trick. With the match now over Graham Rix made three substitutions caused by tired legs and injury, Morris Dench proving a livewire as he slashed over from Cooper’s low cross across goal before playing in Gary Austin who drove straight at the away goalkeeper as Fareham looked for what would be mere consolation in the final 20.
Instead a fifth and final finish of this encounter came from Moneyfields within the seventy-fourth minute when Seidon was found in space, spinning his marker easily and converting an ambitious shot that dipped over the head of Deacon for five-nil. It could have been 6-0 when Callum Laycock smashed the inside of the far posts with moments left of play whilst Garry Moody nodded inches wide down the other goal in additional time; the hosts having nothing more to muster as Moneyfields easily closed out an impressive victory and clean sheet.
After eight goals scored and six points from two derby games this week, Moneyfields have risen to 6th in the Wessex Premier having played eleven matches this campaign; sitting five points clear of Fareham who fell to ninth as a result of other scores on Saturday. But Graham Rix’s team won’t have long to wait for their chance to bounce back as they travel to Horndean on Tuesday night as they hope for a copy of last year’s 5-1 win at Five Heads Park before making the lengthy trip next weekend for an encounter with Shaftesbury in Wiltshire.
PICTURED BY MONEYFIELDS FC TWITTER: Both sides battle in a previous campaign in 3-all draw but the visitors completely dominated Fareham across the pitch on Saturday to seal a huge five-nil victory at Cams.
