FAREHAM III 1, ALDERSHOT & FARNHAM 4

ALDERSHOT & Farnham ran out convincing winners, but it wasn’t a performance that will live long in the memory.

The unbeaten Hampshire 1 leaders had beaten Fareham thirds 6-0 in the earlier fixture and looked in confident mood at the start.

This confidence was quickly translated into goals as Max Heaphy converted inside two minutes, picking up on some aggressive play from Ian Metcalfe to slot past the keeper into the bottom corner.

Fareham were sitting deep and looking to overload the midfield, but this left space for the Aldershot defence to stroke the ball around and probe for openings.

For 20 minutes, the visitors cut through the Fareham defence almost at will and Marc Hinton doubled the lead from a slick short-corner routine.

However, Fareham refused to lie down and forced their way into the game, disrupting A&F’s midfield rhythm and hitting on the break.

This unsettled the visitors to a degree and they managed only one goal from several openings leading up to half-time, with Joe Whelan getting his name on the scoresheet.

Metcalfe, at least, showed the desire to put the game to bed. Leaping at a whipped ball across the box, he collided with the keeper who came off worse and required medical attention.

Leading 3-0, Farnham looked to settle into the second half and find their usual level of play. It was not be and the 35 minutes were played out in uncharacteristically nervous fashion.

Neither team look comfortable in or out of possession, making it a scrappy spectacle. The persevering Kevin McCafferty tried to control the game from midfield and Aaron Buchanan ran hard up front, hounding the Fareham defenders and creating a couple opportunities.

Aldershot & Farnham finally killed off the game as Ed Rushmere’s pass into the box went straight through to the keeper who, under pressure from Metcalfe, kicked the ball away and failed to anticipate the cat-like reactions of the veteran forward. Metcalfe controlled in mid-air and turned to power the ball into the corner.

A&F were denied a clean sheet, though. In the final moments, a Fareham forward was clean through and as Hamish Hall raced out, squeezed the ball inside the post.

Southampton University visit Heath End this Saturday.