HASLEMERE 5, CROYDON & OW 4

HASLEMERE moved up to fourth in the Hants/Surrey 1 table, just three points behind leaders Woking, after beating Croydon & Old Whitgiftian in a nine-goal tussle.

In-form forwards Nic Cope and Andy Powell both scored in the dying moments to snatch a dramatic victory.

On a fresh Saturday morning, Haslemere were aiming to bounce back from defeat to Barnes the previous weekend.

The Blues began brightly and with the attacking pace at their disposal, looked to punish Croydon on the counter-attack.

However, Charlie Millsom and Powell missed decent chances to put the home side in front and as Croydon began to assert themselves, Grant Roberts, Campbell Hancock and Jacob Hall had to stay organised and disciplined in midfield.

The game was end to end and both teams were working hard to find that opening goal.

Josh Cowell worked the Croydon keeper on occasions, while the visiting attackers also tested Nick Bull in the home goal.

Eventually, Haslemere carved out what seemed a healthy lead with two excellent team goals, finished off by Cope and Cowell.

But the Blues switched off and, almost immediately, Dominic Coe pulled one back for Croydon.

It was a wake-up call for Haslemere who stepped up their work-rate, but despite the efforts of Rob Dilworth, Jarryd Brown, Alex Regan and Ali Gloak, Croydon again broke through and a goal from Tim Davies restored parity at 2-2.

Although Haslemere again began strongly in the second half, it was Croydon who took the lead for the first time with an early strike from Bastien Descamps.

It was now Haslemere’s turn to dig deep and Powell scored to square the match at 3-3, only for Descamps to restore Croydon’s advantage with his second goal.

Not much time remained and it looked like the points were heading back to south London.

Haslemere skipper Dilworth, who had gone off injured, assessed the situation from the sidelines and the changes he made turned the game around.

Last-gasp strikes from Cope and Powell snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

This Saturday, Haslemere travel to play Fareham 2nd XI in their last game before the Christmas break.

Haslemere squad: Bull, Regan, Dilworth, Brown, Gloak, Roberts, E Hall, Campbell, J Hall, Morgan, Millsom, Cope, Cowell, Powell.

• Haslemere 2nd XI, still winless and propping up Hampshire 1, lost 5-1 to Havant 3rd XI.