(Wessex League Division 1)

On Wednesday, Fleet Spurs entertained Tadley Calleva and were ridiculously bad.  On Saturday, the visitors were Downton, and Spurs were sublimely good.  From the ridiculous to the sublime in less than three days.

The Tadley game can be summarised very briefly.  Ben Nicholls gave the visitors the lead just before half time after cleverly wrong-footing the Spurs defence.  After the break Shaun Dallimore with a header from a free kick and Ashley Ledger with a well-taken free kick put the game beyond Spurs’ reach before the hour, and the home side never looked like threatening the Tadley goal.

Manager Neil Baker brought in three new faces for the Downton game, and what a difference they made.  Mark Anderson and Jamie McClurg scored all Spurs’ goals and Bernard Asante’s speed and determination made him Spurs’ stand-out defender at left back.

Spurs immediately took control and created a number of chances in the first few minute without being able to finish them.  However just as Spurs’ fans were wondering if they would ever score, Anderson swept home a fine low cross after a mazy run from the promising Luke Walsh.  Ten minutes later, Anderson doubled Spurs lead with an accurate low shot into the corner of the net after unselfish approach play by Adam Crittenden, the move starting with a good Michael Watson run.

Spurs went flat for a while after the break and Downton came back into the game.  Despite having defender Ben Cross dismissed for a second bookable offence, the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game and Joe Dorrington superbly volleyed home a free kick.  A nervous spell for Spurs’ supporters ended when Jamie McClurg score with a well-placed low shot after good work by Sam Knowles.  Anderson clinched the game and completed his hat-trick just before the end when he headed home a good cross from Glen Mackenzie.

Spurs’ boss Neil Baker said: “I was delighted with such an improved performance.  We need more of the same if we are to continue to rise up the table”

Spurs now stand 18th in the league.  They have another three games over a six-day period, visiting Petersfield Town on Tuesday (kick-off 7.45), entertaining United Services Portsmouth on Saturday and finally visiting AFC Aldermaston on Bank Holiday Monday.(both kick-offs 3.00).  Following those games, manager Baker will have a much clearer idea of how Spurs’ season is likely to go.