ALDERSHOT & FARNHAM 7, GOSPORT 1

ALDERSHOT & Farnham stretched their unbeaten run to nine games with this dominant performance at Heath End on Saturday.

With a chance to go top of the Hampshire 2 table, A&F were fully motivated against mid-table Gosport. As it turned out, top side Bournemouth beat second-placed Isle of Wight and Farnham remain just two points off the lead

Top striker Ian Metcalfe was unavailable, but A&F’s young attackers stepped up to the mark, driving towards the Gosport goal and winning a short corner.

Aldershot have put in plenty of work on their routine. Ian Jennings’ drag-flick was smartly saved, but Aaron Buchanan scrapped for the loose ball and bundled it over the line.

Jennings was a real presence, constantly scuttling amongst the midfield line and playing incisive balls from deep for his forwards to run on to and stretch Gosport.

It was Jennings who fired a ball towards the far post and Ross Ferguson, whose clever movement had earned him a yard of space, beat the helpless keeper with a deflection into the bottom corner.

Gosport had hardly seen the ball in this first five minutes, but slowly they started to put together some spells of possession. Post man Chris Edwards prevented a goal at a short corner, but unluckily conceded a penalty flick in the process and Gosport converted to get back into the game.

As play became more stretched, A&F held their shape well. Jennings planted the ball against the crossbar at another short corner and although the rebound came fast at the onrushing forwards, George Rooke volleyed hard back past the advancing keeper for the third goal.

Gosport still looked dangerous and A&F had plenty to do in the second half. The visiting keeper saved well from Ferguson, but the predatory Jackson Brown was well placed to turn in the rebound.

Buchanan had been running hard without much reward, but was then able to slip a reverse-stick shot hard and low beyond the keeper to put the game beyond Gosport.

The pace of the game finally took its toll on Gosport and two errors were ruthlessly seized upon to complete the scoring.

The tenacious Buchanan stole the ball from the Gosport centre-back, leaving nothing between himself and the keeper. Buchanan has struggled in this situation before, but riding the crest of a wave of confidence, he pulled the keeper one way before nudging the ball under his left leg to complete his first hat-trick for the club.

Ferguson found himself in a near identical position late on and finished less impressively, clipping the ball into the ground and seeing it take a lucky bounce over the onrushing keeper.

Aldershot & Farnham are away to Southampton University this Saturday.

A&F: Wilkie, Rushmere, Rickett, Brown, Edwards, Buchanan, Yelland, Jervis, Happy, Rooke, Jennings, Ferguson, Coote.