Aldershot & Farnham 3, Havant II 1

HAVANT seconds became the second side in recent weeks who were top of men’s Hampshire/Surrey 2 table before the start of play but left their visit to Aldershot & Farnham empty handed.

A&F knocked Andover off top spot a few weeks ago and did the same to Havant last weekend to leave Surbiton top of the pile.

Clinical finishing is what was missing from the Aldershot & Farnham performance the previous week, but this time in a game of few opportunities for either side they took their chances.

With a couple of key absentees, Ian Jennings changed the A&F formation, opting for an aggressive approach with four forwards to try to put the pressure on Havant and take the game to them.

Phil Rushmere nudged in the opener from a ball aimed at the far post by Luke Powell, with Johnny Thompson deserving credit for good work in the midfield and finding Powell in the circle.

Jonny Groves then dispossessed Havant high on the right flank and drove to the line before cutting the ball back with precision to Ian Metcalfe, who found a yard of space to shovel the ball into the net to double A&F’s lead.

The skilful Rob Jervis then worked his way into a threatening position on the right-hand side of the circle, his pass picking out Metcalfe who this time had come to the near post to get in front of the defender and turn the ball into the far corner.

The goal put A&F 3-0 up at half time but coach Jennings was furious with his side’s positional shape, work rate and error count.

The home side also knew they had to be on their guard. They had survived a couple of scares in the first half and in the fixture against Havant in the first half of the season they had led 3-0 only to be pegged back to 3-3.

But this time around A&F’s defence limited the number of openings created by Havant, who lacked the firepower in the second half. They did pull one goal back with ten minutes to go, but it was a reasonably comfortable finish for the home side.

Aldershot & Farnham: Walker, Hammond, Weston, E Rushmere, Jervis, Thompson, P Rushmere, Groves, Metcalfe, Powell, Fuentes Moreno, Long.