HASLEMERE 3, BASINGSTOKE 5
A DRAW and a defeat – albeit an unlucky one – was not the start to the season that Haslemere, newly promoted to Hants/Surrey Regional 1, had anticipated, having dominated their pre-season fixtures.
Their second home game, against Basingstoke, was an opportunity to put things right. Alas, it was not to be as the Blues went down in a five-goal tussle.
Haslemere began brightly and enjoyed good possession as strong tackling from both sides led to frequent turnovers and fast counter-attacks.
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The hosts’ quick-passing game began to stretch Basingstoke and soon, with centre-backs Barney Green and Rob Dilworth pushing the team high up the pitch, Rob Grech almost gave them the lead with a scything shot that was stopped at the near post.
So, it was against the run of play when a fine run by Dean Record set Grant Rouse up for a close-range finish; 1-0 to Basingstoke.
The Blues continued to push hard and, indeed, did everything but find the back of the net. But they were being caught on the break and clinical finishing by Paul Dowers and Will Jewkes gave the visitors a commanding 3-0 advantage at the break.
Whatever captain Green and coach Dilworth said at half-time was clearly inspirational because Haslemere mounted a stirring fightback in the second half.
Basingstoke won a short corner, but the ball was weakly struck and post-man Green threw a strong pass out wide. The Blues swept into the Basingstoke D and Graham Stopher lifted the ball over the diving keeper to reduce the deficit.
The momentum was now with Haslemere and a rattled Basingstoke came under intense pressure.
Slick passing brought an open-play goal from Tristan Conoley and, soon after, a short-corner strike by Elliott Hall levelled the match at 3-3 with 15 minutes to go.
Haslemere continued to push hard for the win, but, as in the first half, left themselves open to the swift counter-attack.
Basingstoke made them pay and further goals from Record – a nice reverse-stick effort – and Ben Shaunnessey wrapped the game up at 5-3.
Despite having picked up just one point from three games, Haslemere look comfortable in their new league, but need more time to bring all parts of their game together at this quicker and higher standard of hockey.