SUNBURY & WALTON HAWKS 5, HASLEMERE 1

HASLEMERE have handed out some rough treatment to opponents this season while amassing 95 goals in 19 league matches.

But the Hants/Surrey 2 leaders had a taste of their own medicine as Sunbury & Walton Hawks kept their own promotion hopes alive with a tigerish performance at St Paul’s College.

The Hawks scored five goals and inflicted on Haslemere their first defeat in four months and only their second of the season.

Haslemere remain four points clear at the top and, with a game in hand and three to play, their superior goal difference assures them of promotion, with Sunbury only able to draw level on points.

But Haslemere would dearly like to stay ahead of second-placed London Academicals and go up as champions.

One more win will do it and Rob Dilworth’s men will aim to clinch the championship when they host Addiscombe at Woolmer Hill this Saturday.

The Blues were frankly lacklustre against Sunbury and when, on the stroke of half-time, Mark Collins arrived at the far post to hammer a cross past Nick Short, the visitors had a 3-0 lead under their belts after earlier strikes by Eoin Haughton and Martin Delaney.

Haslemere, who were last beaten on November 21 (by the Academicals) belatedly hit back through Grant Roberts. The midfielder was set up by Graham Stopher from a short corner and Roberts controlled the ball before hitting a thunderous shot for his first goal of the season.

Trailing 3-1, the leaders went for broke, but Sunbury hit them on the break and further goals from Simon Lindsey-Bray and Mike Sharp give them a convincing margin of victory.

“The game was a clear indication that it’s not easy to win in this league,” said skipper Dilworth. “Congratulations to Sunbury. In the first half they were excellent and we failed to react to tactical changes. We had enough chances to get back into the game, but it was not our day and it was most certainly Sunbury’s day.

“Everything they hit goalwards seemed to go in. We still have much work to do to secure the title.”