HEADLEY 1,

HAMBLE CLUB 4

HEADLEY’S meeting with Hampshire Premier League leaders Hamble Club was the only Senior Division match to survive the wet weather and the home side’s reward for getting their pitch in decent condition was a heavy defeat.

The strong head-wind was a key factor in the game and Headley failed to make the most of their advantage in the first half.

Hamble, in fact, had the first real chance when Ricky Bull toe-poked the ball past keeper Steve Smith and George White got back to clear off the line.

Headley had plenty of possession, but struggled to penetrate a disciplined defence, well marshalled by Kevin Lewis and Dan Pancaldi.

Matt Rayner made good contact with a couple of free-kicks, but Ben Kneller saved comfortably in the Hamble goal.

It was the visitors who took the lead midway through the half. Shane Flooks broke from midfield and went all the way to finish clinically as Headley’s defenders backed off, distracted by some clever running off the ball.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Hamble predictably dominated possession.

Headley resisted for 22 minutes before Dan Cox doubled the lead with a 25-yard free-kick that ricocheted into the net off the underside of the bar.

Nine minutes later, Flooks put the game out of reach with his second goal, albeit scoring at the second attempt.

A defiant Headley promptly pulled one back when Neil Cornwell skipped round keeper Kneller to score into an empty net.

But Hamble had the last word as keeper Smith’s clearance held up on the wind and fell kindly for Luke Watts who returned the ball with interest into the unguarded goal.