HASLEMERE 3, EPSOM 1

HASLEMERE won a hard-fought match against Epsom at Woolmer Hill on Saturday.

It was Haslemere’s third consecutive win and they rise to third in the Hants/Surrey Regional 1.

Epsom were also hoping to push into the top four, but Haslemere soon stamped their authority on the game and piled on the pressure with some fluid build-up play by midfielders Jacob Hall, Grant Roberts, Andy Powell and Elliott Hall.

The hosts did not have to wait long to take the lead, Jacob Hall setting up Powell who finished calmly finish.

The Blues continued to create chances for forwards Charlie Millsom, Josh Cowell, Nic Cope and Will Tristem, but solid defending and good goalkeeping kept Epsom in the game.

However, the pressure proved too much in the end and some superb play by Millsom left youngster Tristem with an open net to score his first goal for the 1st XI.

With this, the game turned in the Blues’ favour. Epsom played good hockey in patches and opened some holes in the home rearguard, but keeper Nick Bull was having none of it and made some excellent saves, while marshalling his defence to keep the opposing forwards at bay.

Bull, later named man of the match, showed his skill with a treble save and denied the visitors at five short corners towards the end of the first half.

Epsom came out strongly on the restart and Haslemere had to work hard as a team to protect their two-goal cushion.

Defenders Rob Dilworth, Jarryd Brown and Alastair Gloak presented a solid wall, but it was finally breached by a slick short-corner routine and Joe Beaven scored to narrow the deficit to 2-1.

The next goal was going to be vital and chances came and went at both ends before, late in the match, Haslemere clinched the points with a nicely-worked short corner of their own, Elliott Hall flicking the ball over a prone keeper to restore the two-goal advantage.

The game was far from being over, though, and Haslemere had to work hard under waves of attacks, while always looking to attack on the break.

The Blues held out and will look to extend their winning run this Saturday when they travel to Barnes. The teams are level on 16 points from eight games.

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

Hamble 3, Haslemere II 0 (Hants 1). Haslemere 2nd XI, after struggling with late withdrawals, remain bottom of the league after suffering their seventh loss in eight games.

After last season’s creditable mid-table finish, Haslemere seconds are performing well below their potential. They still have a strong squad and when the team clicks, they could yet claw their way out of trouble.

Vets bounce back with

six-goal spree

HASLEMERE Vets 6, South Berks 0 (Wessex Supervets Alliance). Haslemere Veterans were anxious to put their first league defeat of the season behind them.

They duly upped their game and played with confidence and sharper passing. It took them 30 minutes to take the lead, though, Simon Prichard expertly slotting home.

The second half was a different story and two goals apiece from Johnny Roberts and Paul Saunders and a second for Prichard made it six of the best against South Berks Vets.

An excellent short-corner defence by Peter Lawrence, streaking off the goal-line, ensured that the Vets kept a clean sheet and third spot in the league.