(Wessex League Division 1)
Spurs enjoyed a short overseas trip on Saturday, returning to the mainland with three well-deserved points.
Spurs’ started disappointingly, giving the ball away far too easily, but gradually they established dominance, being notably quicker in the challenge than the Isle of Wight team, and with Ben Edwards dominating midfield in his first league start for the club. As usual, Fleet squandered a number of chances, before Sam Knowles beat the keeper from an acute angle after his first shot had been saved. A minute before the break, Dan Sleet, who formed an impressive back line with manager Neil Baker and Danny Harrison, volleyed home spectacularly after Vics had failed to clear a corner.
Fleet Spurs returned to winning ways on Saturday with a convincing four nil defeat of Hythe & Dibden.
Having played Hythe on Tuesday night in the Russell Cotes cup and lost, Fleet were always going to be keen to avenge this, and with a number of players returning to the squad, the team looked to have a bit of steel about them, and started the game like a train.
Fleet found themselves 2 goals up very early, when a great ball in to the box from Tom Chillery resulted in panic in the Hythe defence and a clearance cannoned of Adam Crittenden’s heel into the back of the net to give an early lead.
This was quickly doubled up when a long kick from keeper Mark Appleby, evaded the Hythe defence, leaving Adam Crittenden a clear run on goal, and enabled him to execute expertly to give Fleet a 2 goal cushion.
In all honesty the Spurs were not playing the good football that they had done in recent games, but they just seemed to be more solid.
(Russell Cotes Cup)
Another nail-biting cup-tie for Fleet Spurs, very similar to the Farnborough NE game a fortnight ago. Even the score was the same, as were the conditions – wet pitch and intermittent rain.
The first half was relatively uneventful with both sides making too many mistakes. Spurs were slightly on top, but missed several chances, notably when Sam Knowles blasted past the post when it seemed easier to score. However, the big striker redeemed himself after the break, scoring from the spot with a coolly-taken shot to the keeper’s right after Jack Chambers had been brought down. Spurs threatened to score again, but slack defensive marking from a Hythe corner enabled substitute striker John Mulhern to equalise with a powerful header just under the bar. In the last few minutes, Hythe twice hit the woodwork and Spurs were hanging on at the end.
(Wessex League Division 1)
For the second successive Saturday, Spurs were unlucky to come up against an excellent side playing well. For the second successive Saturday, they played a lot of good football, but were unable to succeed against stronger opposition.
The first half started in a lively manner, with opportunities at each end, but Hamble soon took the lead when the Fleet defence were slow to close down centre back Lloyd Webber, who gave keeper Mark Appleby no chance with a powerful drive from just outside the box. After a period of end-to-end play, the visitors then illustrated their sharpness with two goals in five minutes. First, sub Ricky Rawlins, on for the injured Paul West, blasted home a low Richard Gregory cross, and on the half-hour mark, skipper James Roden headed a Rawlins cross past the helpless keeper.
Having lost some players last minute (to injury, the A’s and old age) it was a nervy start to the game from the Vets against a new look Shalford side. At 0 – 0 and half time Dan Gardiner looked peaky, but a swig of water turned him into a new man, commanding man of the match nominations form every single one of his team mates … apart from his Dad who nominated Allaway. Snapper opened the scoring from a tight angle after a cross from Allaway and he doubled his tally with the oppo quite rightly feeling hard done by. Then came a wonder goal from Dan who blasted it in from 35 yards, almost taking the keepers hand off in the process. A late penalty from Allaway sealed the win and The Spurs go marching on.
(Wessex League Division 1)
Despite the result, an encouraging display by Spurs against unbeaten league leaders Fawley
The game started off at a cracking pace, and Danny Harrison marked his Spurs debut with a goal after two minutes, hammering home a loose ball following a Tom Chillery free-kick. Spurs lead only lasted two minutes, James Fry equalising with a magnificent shot after Spurs had only half cleared a Fawley corner. The game continued to be lively with Spurs doing more of the attacking but the visitors looking dangerous on the break. The half ended even, with Spurs perhaps a little unlucky not to be in the lead.
(aet) Hampshire Senior Cup
In the end, this turned out to be a remarkable game, though no-one would have believed that until the last ten minutes of normal time.
Spurs started off dreadfully, poor defending gifting visiting striker Danny Turner two goals in the first ten minutes. The game then meandered on for the next seventy minutes with Fleet unable to break through and North End happy with their two-goal lead. The main incident of note in that period was an unfortunate injury to home keeper Andy Hunt, who was stretchered off with an achilles injury.
Spurs first team had a free Saturday this week, but they have two demanding home games in the next week. On Tuesday they entertain local rivals Farnborough North End in the Hampshire Senior Cup (kick-off 7.45), and on Saturday the visitors for a league game are unbeaten Fawley (kick-off 3.00).
The Reserves visited Hampshire Premier Football League Otterbourne in a Hampshire Intermediate Cup 2nd Round game. Spurs started strongly and Jack Chambers was unlucky to hit the bar with a header from Ross Blowers’ corner. Spurs were holding their own, and it came as something of a surprise when Kevin Gleeson gave the home side the lead on the half-hour with a powerful shot that went in via the keeper’s fingertips and the underside of the bar. Otterbourne then began to get on top, but resolute defending by Spurs kept the sheet clean until the break.