Harold Wilson famously said that a week is along time in politics and this game proved that the saying can apply to football as well.  Following their deserved league defeat by Petersfield on Monday, Spurs more than turned the tables with a comfortable victory in their first-ever game in the FA Vase.
The game was relatively uneventful for the first half hour, with both sides showing some neat touches but squandering a number of decent chances.  However midway through the half, a Jon Tanfield shot was deflected to the unmarked Luke Walsh, who hammered the ball home from close range.  Quarter of an hour later, Adam Crittenden doubled the lead after a shot by Sam Knowles had been charged down, and three minutes later Walsh scored the goal of the match with a powerful left-foot drive from the edge of the box that gave stand-in keeper Phil Braithwaite no chance.
After the break, Fleet appeared to descend into complacency, but with young keeper Tom Walker making a number of good saves Town were unable to take advantage until striker Callum Coker reduced the deficit, scoring for the second time in two games when he was first to the loose ball after Walker had lost the ball in an aerial challenge. Spurs retaliated with a close-range header from Sam Knowles after a bout of head tennis in the Petersfield goalmouth.  Crittenden, whose finishing had up till then been uncharacteristically profligate, scored two close-range goals in stoppage time to give a final score line that somewhat flattered Spurs.
Player-manager Neil Baker enjoyed celebrating his thirty-first birthday with a victory.  Spurs entertain Rye United of the Sussex County League in the next round of the Vase on 18 September, whilst they return to league action on Saturday when they play host to Whitchurch United (kick-off 3.00).

This was another lacklustre performance by Spurs, who got exactly what they deserved from the game – nothing.
Both sides started brightly in this noon kick-off game, trying to play attractive football and mostly keeping the ball on the ground, though Spurs were often too reliant on the long ball to big striker Sam Knowles, who lacked support from his midfield colleagues.  Petersfield looked the better side with their neat passing game, and it was no surprise when midway through the half Callum Coker gave them the lead, poking the ball into the net after a goalmouth scramble.  Ben Clisby hit the post following a corner, and winger Matt Humphrey, making his first start for the club, looked menacing but half-time arrived with Town’s one-goal lead a fair reflection of the play.
After the break, Spurs came out more brightly but rarely threatened Lloyd Patilla’s goal, and the visitors continued to look the more dangerous side.  On the hour mark, Mark Appleby made an excellent save, diving to his left to turn away a goalbound drive from Sam Maidens, and the visitors soon doubled their lead when Tony Bichard netted after the ball again went loose in front of goal.  Fleet brought on Jack Chambers, back from injury, and Jamil Olweny, and looked more threatening.  Twenty minutes from the end, Neil Baker got on the end of a Luke Thorn cross and headed in to reduce the arrears.  The lively Olweny made a good run down the left, but his shot beat both the keeper and the far post.  Spurs had a brief spell of dominance, but were unable to break through the Town rearguard again, but Petersfield soon re-asserted themselves and only a spectacular goal-line clearance from Adam Paris, another player making his first start for Fleet, kept the arrears to one goal.  The game ended with Petersfield worthy winners.
Spurs have now dropped to eighth in the table.  On Saturday, they hope to turn the tables when they meet Petersfield again, this time in the FA Vase – Spurs’ first ever game in a national competition game (kick-off 3 pm).
Team: Mark Appleby, Ben Clisby, Neil Baker, Adam Paris, Phil Boddy (c), Matt Humphrey, George Short, Chris Payne (sub Jack Chambers 70), Luke Thorn, Adam Kennedy (sub Jamil Olweny 70), Sam Knowles

A sloppy performance by Spurs led to a disappointing defeat, though it was only in the dying minutes that the home side scored the winner.
The game started uneventfully, with only the delightful view over the old town to interest the crowd.  The ball spent far too much time in the air, as Town were seemingly happy to play a long-ball game and Spurs were unable to get the ball down and play.  However the game sprang to life just before the half-hour mark.  First, Simon Reaney tripped Fleet striker Adam Crittenden in the box – an indisputable penalty – and Sam Knowles made no mistake from the spot, giving keeper Adam Collington no chance with a hard low shot past his right hand into the corner.  This was the big striker’s seventh league goal of the season.  A minute later, Tom Welch equalised for Warminster when he hit a thunderous shot into the top corner from outside the area, giving Mark Appleby no chance.  A magnificent goal.  Spurs then got on top for a few minutes, but were foiled by a mixture of poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Collington.
The second half continued in the same vein with Spurs having most of the possession, but skipper Dave Watkins and Mark Bailey were very solid at the back for Town and snuffed out most of the danger.  Spurs were leaving gaps at the back as they pressed forward making them vulnerable to quick breaks from Warminster, and Appleby had to make a fine save to turn a goalbound shot from defender Mark Breffit round the post.  Then with quarter of an hour to go Welch, a constant danger to Spurs on the left, rounded Jon Tanfield, who had moved to right back following an injury to Ben Clisby, and crossed for 17-year-old sub Derek Wheeler to score from close range.  Three minutes later, Fleet went down the other end and player-manager Neil Baker scored with a headed flick from a Tanfield throw-in, Ian Groves‘ desperate attempt at a goal-line clearance only succeeding in helping the ball into his own net.  Both sides went all out for a winner, and five minutes from the end Warminster succeeded when Tanfield left a back-pass short and Wheeler nipped in to round the keeper and slide the ball home from a narrow angle for his second in ten minutes.
The reaction of the players at the final whistle told the story of the game.  Spurs trooped off morosely to a silent dressing room while the Town players celebrated as if they’d won the Champions’ League.

Fleet Spurs manager Neil Baker takes his team on the long journey down the A303 to Warminster for their next league game  Saturday with the hope of adding to their 10 points.
Missing for definate will be skipper Ben Edwards who will be sunning himself in Mauritus, also playmaker Tom Chillery will be missing for 2-3 weeks after sustaining an ankle injury in the 2-2 draw against Stockbridge on Tuesday night, add in the long term casualties of Dan Sleet and Jack Chambers,  plus Adam Kennedy also unavailable, and the Spurs squad will be fully stretched.
If last season’s games are anything to go by we know we’re  in for a tough game, as although we were victorious by the odd goal in both games last year, they were very tight affairs.
Added to the squad will be new signings Matt Humphrey and Adam Paris, and Baker is hopeful that the Spurs can come back with an important 3 points.
The attention will then shift to Bank Holiday Monday where we entertain Petersfield at 12 noon, although Petersfield have not started well this year, they are always a team that finishes around the top 6, so will not be underestimated in the slightest.
6 points from the weekend will be asked for by Baker, but to achieve this the Spurs will have to work incredibly hard.

Spurs started off badly in their Tuesday night game, perhaps suffering a hangover from their splendid win at Verwood, and it was completely against the run of the play when with ten minutes gone skipper Ben Edwards burst through the Stockbridge defence, rounded keeper Alex Thompson and slipped the ball into an empty net.  Fleet had a number of good chances to increase their lead but profligate finishing by Sam Knowles in particular and Adam Crittenden meant that the score remained 1-0, when the home side should probably have put the result beyond doubt before the half-hour mark.  Spurs reaped the inevitable consequences when ten minutes before the break Aaron Black equalised for Stockbridge with a curling left-foot shot following a free kick that evaded the Spurs defence and Appleby.
The visitors started strongly and only a combination of a good save from Mark Appleby and the post stopped them going ahead immediately after the break.  Stockbridge were now coming into the game more and Casson Spencer shot wastefully over when clean through on goal.  However, Spurs thought they’d scored with a powerful goalbound header by player-manager Neil Baker from a corner by Ben Edwards, but it was spectacularly headed off his own line by Nick Coates .
Quarter of an hour from the end, Simon Nelson gave the visitors the lead with a fine drive into the top corner that left Appleby helpless.  The last few minutes were very hard fought with Fleet straining every muscle to score and Stockbridge closing them down quickly and defending resolutely, but as the game entered injury time, top scorer Knowles headed an inswinging Luke Thorn corner home to give Spurs a deserved point.  There was still time for Spurs to miss another opportunity as a left-wing cross from Phil Boddy bounced agonisingly across the open goal with neither Knowles nor Edwards able to make contact.
Both sides were disappointed with the result: Spurs because they felt they should have made their first-half advantage tell and Stockbridge because they had managed to hold out almost until the end.
Manager Neil Baker felt that although this was a point gained, in reality it was 2 points lost, as defensive errors and poor finishing cost us.

Fleet Spurs made the long trip to Verwood hoping to exact revenge on a team that had beaten the Spurs twice last year, and the day did not start well, with heavy traffic all the way down the M3, meaning most of the players and management did not arrive until 2.35pm.
With vice captain Phill Boddy and Adam Kennedy unavailable, Neil Baker made a few changes from the team that beat Shaftesbury, bringing himself and Chris Payne into the starting line up.
Playing a new formation it took a while for the Spurs to get into the game, and Verwood took an early lead when their winger got in behind the defence and squared the ball for the Verwood striker to pass the ball into an open goal.
Verwood had another similar chance 15 minutes later, but Mark Appleby managed to smother the ball as the Verwood winger tried to take it round him.
Fleet were starting to play good football, and got back in the game, when Adam Crittenden went on a astonishing run, resulting in him beating around 6 players, and calmly slotting the ball over the Verwood keeper.
This soon became 2-1 when a long searching ball from George Short enabled Sam Knowles to get a jump on the Verwood keeper, to head home his 5th goal in 3 matches.
The second half started well for Spurs who were playing the better football, and had a good shout for a penalty turned down, when Ben Edwards was bundled over in the box.
Verwood got themselves back in the game, and had a 10 minute spell where they were on top, and only 2 fantastic saves from Mark Appleby kept the score at 2-1, the second one being a low one handed save from the Verwood skipper, where it looked a goal the moment it left his foot.
From the resulting corner, Appleby claimed the ball, and launched it up the field for Adam Crittenden to get in, and score another outrageous goal.
Three soon became four when good work rate by Sam Knowles who was excellent all day, enabled him to pass the ball to Chris Payne, who put in an excellent cross that Ben Edwards headed in to the top left hand corner.
Fleet Spurs managed to play the rest of the game out without being caused too many problems, although Mark Appleby was still called in to make another 2 good stops.
All in all it was a good 3 points for the Spurs who seem to have found their stride after losing the first game of the season.

Please be aware that the annual event has been scheduled for this Sunday the 22nd of August with a 12pm kick off at Hartley Wintney F.C.
For those who are not aware, Mike was a player at the club for many years, who regularly won top goalscorer awards, but tragically lost his life in a car accident.
A fund was set up in his memory, and every year money is raised to help local schools etc.
As a club we would like as many people to make the effort to get down and support a great cause, and i know it will please Brian and Jenny who are always at our home games to see as many faces as possible from the club.
I am aware that a few players throughout the club are due to be playing, but i would urge everyone to make the effort to get down and show the support that Mike deserves.

Spurs began strongly, keeping possession well, but were thwarted by a determined Shaftesbury side and created little threat in front of goal.  Indeed Shaftesbury came nearest to scoring when after quarter of an hour Luke Thorn had to clear off the Fleet goal line after what looked like a game of pinball off the Spurs defence following a Shaftesbury corner.  Five minutes later Sam Knowles had the ball in the Shaftesbury net but the goal was ruled out for offside.   The impressive Jason Beal then burst through Spurs’ defence but his shot was bravely smothered by keeper Tom Walker, who impressed on his Spurs debut.  The score line at half-time was fair as although Spurs had shaded possession, Shaftesbury had created the better goal chances.
After the break, Shaftesbury began to get on top, and it was no surprise when they took the lead after the Fleet defence had failed to clear the ball following another good save by Walker, and skipper Lee Hale blasted the ball in from close range.  Midway through the half, Spurs were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the visitors’ box and Sam Knowles fired a superb shot into the far corner to equalise, much to the relief of the home support, who were beginning to despair of ever seeing a Spurs goal.  This encouraged Fleet and they established a dominance that was to last for the end off the game.  Quarter of an hour from the end, sub Chris Payne gave Spurs the lead with a powerful drive after a weak clearance from the Shaftesbury defence.  Three minutes later, Knowles doubled his tally heading in an inswinging Luke Thorn corner from close range.

After their dreadful start against East Cowes Vics on Saturday, Spurs came back to form on Thursday night with a comprehensive victory at Andover.
The first quarter of the game was uneventful with both sides giving the ball away far too easily, but after 20 minutes, Luke Walsh outpaced the home defence following a fine through ball from George Short and slipped the ball past Dave Tasker in the New Street goal for the opener.  Ten minutes later, Tom Chillery crossed from the right and Andover’s Antony Waters unfortunately doubled Fleet’s score, leaving Tasker helpless with a powerful attempted clearance.  Shaken by this, the home side conceded again within half a minute as Tanfield crossed for Adam Crittenden to hammer the ball home.  When the fates are against a team, they generally stay that way.  First of all, Phil Boddy spectacularly cleared a goal-bound shot from skipper Danny Sullivan off the line, and then just before the break, Ben Clisby hit a cross-cum-shot from the right hand-touchline almost on the half-way line and it flew into the net inside the near post, just as intended (says Clisby).
Five minutes after the restart, Crittenden doubled his personal tally with a fine individual goal from a narrow angle.  To make matters worse, New Street then had defender Gary Stockwell dismissed for what the officials deemed to be denying Ben Edwards a clear goal-scoring opportunity.  As often happens, going down to 10 men spurred the home side into producing their best football of the match and Danny Sullivan reduced the arrears after hesitancy in the Spurs defence.  Indeed a few minutes later only a fine save by Mark Appleby prevented a second.  However, as Andover tired Spurs again stamped their authority on the game, and sub Sam Knowles celebrated his return from honeymoon with a couple of goals.  The first came when he broke through and coolly beat the advancing keeper.  The second was from another fine cross from Stuart Tanfield, who was back to something like his best form.  There was still time for the evening to get even worse for New Street as Sullivan was sent of for his second bookable offence.