WEYMOUTH 1, HASLEMERE II 8

HASLEMERE II didn’t just win Saturday’s key bottom-of-the-table clash in Hampshire One, they destroyed a hapless Weymouth.

The Blues welcomed back Mitch Chapman after a prolonged absence and a strong squad of 13 made the long journey determined to continue their unbeaten start to 2018.

Within 25 seconds, Haslemere’s powerful press led to Zac Thomas threading a great ball through to Will Hams who calmly found the bottom corner of the goal.

Haslemere piled on the pressure and after a flurry of short corners that did not work out, Harry Finn set up Jamie Cashman to score at the back post.

Ben Powell was then called into action and made a couple of fine saves as Weymouth fought back.

But the Blues were soon attacking again and when Cameron Moore found himself free in the D, he took the ball round the keeper and squeezed it home from a tight angle.

Weymouth snatched one back on the stroke of half-time, but the visitors dominated play from the start of the second half and further goals from Cashman and Hams effectively put the game to bed.

There was no easing up by Haslemere, though, and Hams took advantage of poor defending and keeping at a short corner to complete his hat-trick.

Leading 6-1, Haslemere rang the changes and Thomas, desperate to get on the scoresheet, duly claimed his first goal of the season.

Finally, Ali McGregor advanced from defence and found the back of the net with a crisp, clean strike – probably the best goal of the day.