Goal-happy Fareham make storming start to new West Conference hockey season
They followed up a 6-1 win at Cardiff University with an impressive 6-2 defeat of visiting Cheltenham.
Portsmouth Grammar School’s Alex Beckett, who scored twice in south Wales, set the latest win up with another double in the opening 15 minutes.
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Hide AdThe tall slim striker gleefully accepted an easy fifth minute tap in but, after Richard Owen had equalised, he out-foxed several defenders on the shoulder of the circle before hammering a shot past Sam Cathie.
Fareham took their 2-1 advantage into the interval break – immediately after which two incidents swung the match in their favour.
First Rory Kemp made a point blank save from a short corner breakdown to deny Chris Laird.
Then, in a clinical counter-attack, the teenage Phil Larcombe drove from the 25-yard line and beat several defenders before sending a shot on the turn screaming past Cathie.
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Hide AdIt was a fine individual goal – one which Fareham followed up with two more in quick succession from Chris Davey and Shane Vincent.
Denied at the first attempt, Davey made it 4-1 before Vincent converted Fareham’s second set piece to add a fifth.
Whilst Fareham dominated possession, Cheltenham remained a threat on the counter – Owen keeping their faint hopes alive from a penalty corner.
Subsequent Fareham attacks saw Larcombe denied by an outstretched goalkeeper’s boot and Davey have a second disallowed after an off-target shot by Josh Steel had been deemed dangerous.
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Hide AdCheltenham refused to throw in the towel and on three separate occasions Kemp denied them before Sam Ratliffe celebrated his debut National League goal.
A mass goalmouth scramble ensured after Vincent’s penalty corner had been blocked, but Ratliffe somehow found a gap to poke the ball in.