BOURNEMOUTH III 1, ALDERSHOT & F 10

ALDERSHOT & Farnham took their winning streak to four games and went third in the Hampshire 2 table with a clinical performance on the coast.

Fitness played a big part on a muggy afternoon as A&F plundered 10 goals in one-sided encounter against Bournemouth thirds.

The visitors were hit by a number of injuries and absentees, but pushed forward straight from the first whistle. Their high-pressing game immediately paid dividends as debutant Ross Ferguson scored within two minutes.

Although dictating the early play, Farnham were experimenting with a new formation and Bournemouth launched some decent attacks of their own.

But a swift move down the right prised open the home defence and Jackson Brown fired the ball across the top of the area to an unmarked Ian Metcalfe who coolly slotted into the bottom corner.

Farnham continued to press on, eager to hand out further punishment, but Bournemouth intercepted a slow ball in midfield and released their dangerous forward to score what transpired to be their only goal of the game.

The next goal was vital and A&F responded positively by winning a short corner. Ferguson dragged the ball high to the keeper’s right to restore the two-goal cushion. This seemed to deflate the Bournemouth and Ferguson soon took the opportunity to complete his hat-trick. Metcalfe followed up with his second to make it 5-1 and effectively put the game to bed before half-time.

It was all Aldershot & Farnham in the second half, with George Rooke’s intelligent movement catching the eye. Some fine stick-work by Rooke in a tight space set up Ferguson to make it six. Ferguson then hit the post with a sharp shot and in the ensuing scramble, Metcalfe hustled the ball over the line for his treble.

A&F could have settled for 7-1, but Aaron Buchanan was in no mood for clemency and hounded Bournemouth’s defence into a number of errors.

It was Buchanan who drove forward and slipped the ball square before being clattered by the goalkeeper. Ferguson could not miss.

Max Heaphey was not going to miss out and scored on the reverse from an impossible angle.

A final short-corner goal for Ferguson – his sixth of the day – took A&F into double figures. It was their largest winning margin since the infamous 98/99 season.

A&F, still unbeaten, welcome Petersfield to Heath End for a local derby this Saturday.

A&F: Wilkie, Strachan, Rickett, Edwards, P Rushmere, Jervis, Heaphy, Brown, Metcalfe, Buchanan, Rooke, Ferguson, Yelland.

A&F 2nd XI, not to be outdone, romped to a 9-1 victory against Portsmouth & Southsea in their Hampshire 3 match. The 3rd XI drew 3-3 with Romsey II (Hants 4).