WEEKEND REVIEW - MARCH 19
In the Premier Division the top match was at the Sunseeker International County Ground where Hamworthy United retained their five point lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 defeat of Horndean.
All the goals came in the second half with Lee Francis and Cameron Munn on target for the hosts and Brandon Miller getting a late consolation for the visitors. The Deans have hit a bad patch and this defeat, their third in as many games, drops them to fifth place in the table.
Shaftesbury remain in second place after a 4-0 win at US Portsmouth with a double from Greg Peel and strikes from Asa Phillips and Luke Burbidge while Bashley and Brockenhurst changed places. Bashley were held to a one all draw by AFC Stoneham – Adam Grange and Mat Bainbridge respectively – while the Badgers came out on top by the odd goal in three against Fareham. Mitch Speechley-Price and Ben Dukes with the home goals and Casey Bartlett-Scott for the visitors.
The Friday evening clash between AFC Portchester and Moneyfields finished all square at one apiece – Lee Wort and Josh Hazell – but as expected drew a healthy attendance of 447. Portland recorded their second away win in five days with a 2-0 success at Hamble Club, Matt Burrows and Greg Borthwick scoring either side of the break, while Baffins Milton Rovers showed their old form with a 3-0 win at Blackfield & Langley with Jason Parish, Rudi Blankson and James Cowan on the scoresheet.
Bournemouth continued their current run of results in securing a two all draw at Alton, goals from Pat McKay and Marcus Cullen cancelling out efforts from Rob Carr and Oli Graham.
At the bottom of the table, with Amesbury not playing, Christchurch shared the points at Cowes in a one all draw with the goals credited to Jez Conway and Luke Chalwell while Hythe & Dibden continued their revival with a 2-1 win at Alresford Town, their third win in a row. Filippos Terzidis and Cairo Burton scored the goals – Kristian Andonov replying for the hosts - and they may be too far behind but they are certainly giving it a go at this late stage of the season.
In Division One the Bemerton Heath bandwagon rolled on but there were defeats for two of their main challengers. Bemerton won 4-1 at Whitchurch with a hat trick from Justin Bennett and a single from Harry Beckley – Dec Shuttleworth with the home goal – and regained the number one place from Follands who went down 1-0 at Fawley, Dec Hartigan scoring the all-important goal for the Oilers.
Newport lost by the same score at Laverstock & Ford, who played over half the game with ten men and for whom Chae Sykes was on target, and both the Andover sides picked up three points. A Ross Cook header just before half time gave New Street the points against New Milton in a game marred by a very strong wind while a mile or so up the road Andover Town defeated Romsey Town 2-0 thanks to Adam Pattison and Ryan Griffiths.
Downton maintained their interest with a 4-0 win at Millbrook, the goals coming in the second half from Sam Howe with two, Ollie Davies and Robbie Owen while Ringwood bounced back from a 6-0 defeat in midweek with three points, Harry Smith scoring the only goal of the game at Petersfield.
An important game at the bottom saw Fleet Spurs gain a valuable 3-1 win over East Cowes Vics at Kennels Lane with the goals coming from Jack Wilson, Jonny Miller and Tom White. Harrison Yates scored for Vics who, along with Fawley and perhaps Ash United, may now be looking over their shoulders.
No relief however for Totton & Eling who went down 4-0 at home to Verwood for whom Joe Freak scored twice to go with goals from Jake Carswell and Matt Vining. The Millers are now some 14 points from safety and things are looking grim for a long established Wessex League Club.
So Hamworthy are still on course for a League and Vase double with a five point lead in the Premier Division while Bemerton have regained top spot in Division One on goal difference from Follands.
Article Photo: Alresford (white) in action against Hythe & Dibden (Steve Ross)
