HASLEMERE 6, HAVANT II 1

HASLEMERE, teetering on the brink of relegation in their first Hants/Surrey Regional 1 season, saved themselves with a commanding performance in their penultimate fixture.

After a turbulent, eventful season, Haslemere knew that only a win would preserve their hard-won status and they took their recent more structured play into the crunch match against top-five side Havant 2nd XI at Woolmer Hill.

The Blues were missing some regulars, but started well, setting a good pace and dominating possession from the start. Alec Morgan and Barney Green threatened down the flanks with quick passing, aerials and direct attacking play.

However, Havant took the lead against the run of play from a short corner. The shot was saved on the line, but the ball ricocheted into the path of Sam Mallinson who made no mistake.

Haslemere did not panic. Instead, they increased the speed of their passing and movement, tiring the Havant midfield and defence.

After ten minutes of sustained pressure through the energetic midfield of Grant Roberts, Jarryd Brown and Campbell Hancock, Haslemere equalised when Charlie Millsom, called up from the 2nd XI, drove to the top of the circle before getting off a shot that found the far corner.

Top scorer Nic Cope, still keen to get the Golden Stick, then won a short corner and followed up with a drag-flick that put the Blues in front.

Haslemere came out for the second half confident that their big squad would wear down a flagging Havant team. Sure enough, the visitors conceded another short corner and this time Chris Fox did the business with a drag-flick.

Soon after, Hugo Chandler got on the end of a cross from the right, deflecting the ball into the corner to make it 4-1.

Thereafter, Haslemere were in total control. Cope added the fifth from open play and, finally, Andy Major powered into the circle and drove home the sixth in the style he has been showing in winter cricket nets.

With other results going in their favour, Haslemere can relax ahead of their last game of the season – a re-arranged fixture at home to bottom side Wanderers on Sunday.

Wanderers, with two games outstanding, need to beat both Barnes (on Saturday) and Haslemere and achieve a goal-difference swing of 26 to save themselves. Unlikely.