(Wessex League Division 1)

Spurs made the long journey west to Shaftesbury, and received a very hospitable welcome from the friendly Dorset club.  However, Fleet did not return the generous hospitality, recording their biggest win of the season.

Spurs soon took the lead when home keeper Austin Cornell could only turn a well-placed Stuart Tanfield corner into the path of Sam Knowles and the big striker made no mistake with a powerful close-range volley.  Phil Boddy then doubled the lead with his first goal for the club when a speculative long shot from the left wing somehow found its way into the goal.  A minute later, Knowles put Adam Crittenden through and the striker scored from close range with a left-foot shot. There was still time before the break for Fleet to increase the arrears to 5-0.  First Dan Sleet half-volleyed another Tanfield corner past the helpless Cornell.  Sam Knowles then doubled his personal tally with a crisp low shot into the corner of the net.

The second half was less one-sided, though Spurs made and spurned a number of good chances.  Shaftesbury were more in the game now, but never really troubled keeper Mark Appleby.  Twenty minutes from the end, skipper Ben Edwards latched on to a good through ball from Crittenden and gave the keeper no chance.  As the game became more untidy, Shaftesbury debutant James Coffen and Spurs defender Jonathan Tanfield were sent off, in each case for a second bookable defence.  This was not typical of a game that never became dirty.  Substitute Jack Chambers completed the scoring when he beat the onrushing Cornell to a through ball and looped a header over the keeper and into the net.

Spurs extended their unbeaten run to fourteen games, including twelve victories, and now stand 3rd in the league.  They entertain in-form Stockbridge at Southwood in their next game on Saturday (kick-off 3.00).