ALDERSHOT & FARNHAM 2, CITY OF PORTSMOUTH 1

UNBEATEN Aldershot & Farnham cleared another hurdle in their quest for the Hampshire 1 championship, repeating the earlier 2-1 scoreline to do the double over a stubborn City of Portsmouth team.

City travelled to Heath End knowing that only a win would keep them in the title race, while A&F were looking to maintain their five-point cushion at the top of the table.

The visitors made early inroads and missed a clear shot on goal as Aldershot took time to dust off the post-Christmas cobwebs.

However, it didn’t take long for the leaders to assert their authority and a series of short corners saw Marc Hinton find the top left corner with a drag-flick.

The A&F forwards hunted for the ball in typical fashion and, soon after, Ian Metcalfe earned a penalty flick when he was fouled with a goal beckoning. Chris Edwards duly converted for his third goal of the season, beating the keeper to his left.

The Farnham side were looking comfortable, limiting Portsmouth to half-chances, but suddenly the lead was halved as a long pass down the centre split the home defence and an unmarked striker clipped the ball across Hamish Hall into the goal. The A&F defence thus conceded for the first time since November.

Aldershot & Farnham struggled to find their form in the second half as Portsmouth took a leaf out of the Sam Allardyce strategy book, playing long crash balls or aerials.

A strong press allowed Hinton to nearly kill off the game. He dispossessed the centre-back, and drew the keeper before attempting a cheeky lob which was cleared acrobatically off the line by the covering defender.

Portsmouth were becoming increasingly desperate and had two players sin-binned for dissent. Even so, they managed to draw a good save from Hall at his near post.

And the visitors thought they had equalised when they took advantage of a free-hit outside the D to pass to the right winger whose cross was converted at the far post. However, following an umpires’ review, the goal was disallowed for an incorrectly taken free-hit, much to the relief of the home crowd.

In the final minutes, Aldershot & Farnham held up the ball in the corners through Hinton and Rob Jervis and ran down the clock to secure three hard-earned points.

A&F will be happy to have won a tricky fixture, creating chances and conceding no short corners for the first time this season.

Bournemouth II, who won 3-1 at Salisbury, remain five points adrift as the division becomes a two-horse race. A&F travel to Fareham III this Saturday, while Bournemouth host Hamble.

A&F squad: Hall, Strachan, E Rushmere, Rickett, Weston, Edwards, P Rushmere, Whelan, McCafferty, Jervis, Heaphy, Hinton, Metcalfe, Yelland, Chadwick.