NEW FOREST 0, HASLEMERE II 1

HASLEMERE 2nd XI are top of their league and still unbeaten after their win at the New Forest.

The home side, with only three points from a possible 12, played safe from the start with a half-court press, inviting heavy pressure on themselves.

Haslemere had plenty of the ball, but struggled to find a way through the mass of bodies behind the ball.

When the visitors did get through, they were denied by either a fine save or a defender’s foot.

Charlie Millsom and Will Hams went closest and Haslemere should have made more of their many short corners in the first half.

The second period was more entertaining as New Forest began to venture out of their own half. Now Haslemere had some defending to do and goalkeeper Olly Church made a superb save in a one-on-one situation.

Eventually, frustration got to Haslemere and Alastair Gloak and Tom Gee were banished, leaving their side with nine men for five minutes.

It seemed like it was not to be Haslemere’s day, especially when Campbell Hancock was hit on the head by a deflection and had to leave for A&E. The pause in the action did give Haslemere time to regroup and focus on the task.

A late push earned them a penalty flick. The breakthrough at last? No, Graham Stopher’s shot bounced back off the post.

Matt Hemming, Jack Dennis and Jason Moore couldn’t find their way to the goal and it appeared that Haslemere’s 100 per cent record was to be ended.

In the final minute, Stopher drove forward with redemption in mind. Forcing his way past the left-back, he gave the ball to Jason Moore who beat his man to create space and then, with a fantastic reverse-stick shot, found the bottom corner. Haslemere erupted ....

Haslemere II: Church, Gee, McGregor, Putnam, Gloak, Moore, Dennis, Hams, Easton, Hemming, Stopher, Millsom, Campbell.