Spurs finished the season on a high with an excellent victory on Tuesday night against Team Solent, who had mounted a serious challenge for the Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) Division 1 title and have earned a creditable top four place in their first season in the league.

The game started brightly with both sides playing enterprising football. The first real chance fell to the visitors, who were unlucky to hit the post after a slick move down the left. This was the closest they were to come to scoring. Although they established territorial superiority, helped by Fleet’s tendency to concede possession too easily, they created few clear-cut openings. On the other hand, Spurs’ first incursion into Solent’s half for many minutes brought its reward when a right-wing cross from Sam Cobbett found Tom Chillery, who unselfishly set up his brother James to find the bottom corner of the net from 12 yards. Fleet began to see more of the ball, and squandered a couple of decent chances, but half-time came with the home side one goal to the good.

The second half started with Solent dominating possession, but again lacking any cutting edge and failing to outwit the customary resolute Spurs defending. As the half developed, Fleet came more into the game, and Tom Chillery was brought down in the box after a typically elusive run. He took the spot-kick himself, leaving keeper Barry Squires helpless. Solent continued to have the bulk of the possession, but could not trouble the Spurs defence too much, and the game ended with the home side victorious.

Spurs are now comfortably in the top half of the table, and will finish either 7th or 8th depending on results elsewhere. This represents a most encouraging start to manager Andy Hunt’s managerial career at Fleet. Since Christmas, the side has gained 32 points from 17 games, which represents top four form. The club can look forward to next season with justified optimism, particularly now the team is settled in shape and personnel.

Team: Ryan Bone; Alex Pickering; James Wills; Glen Hunt (c); Kevin Vallance; Adam Aimable (sub Mike Ford 40); Sam Cobbett; James Chillery; Tom Chillery; Sam Knowles; James Powell

Spurs managed to hold on to a one-goal lead at the Canotec Stadium to gain a hard-fought three points.

The game started untidily with both teams hampered by a gusty wind and a bouncy end-of season pitch, and chances were few and far between. What there were fell mostly to Fleet, but occurred more as a result of careless Ringwood play than their own creative play. Sam Knowles and Tom Chillery both had half-chances, which they were unable to put away, whilst Town only mustered a couple of shots, which sailed harmlessly over the bar or went wide. Five minutes before half-time, Spurs defender James Wills probably came closest to opening the account, though at the wrong end, but his strong header was fortunately straight at the startled Ryan Bone.

The second half started much the same, but seven minutes after the break, home skipper Charlie Pierson attempted to clear an Adam Aimable cross, but only succeeded in heading it powerfully into his own net. This setback appeared to wake Ringwood up, and for the rest of the game they besieged the Fleet goal, with the visitors only threatening sporadically on the break. Striker Martin Edwards was particularly unlucky or profligate, either missing narrowly or finding Bone equal to his shots on target. When Bone was beaten, the post and resolute defence from Spurs – including a spectacular goal-line clearance from sub James Powell – kept their goal intact. In one of Fleet’s rare breaks, Sam Knowles beat keeper Josh Daley with a powerful drive, but the ball rebounded from the underside of the crossbar. A 2-0 scoreline really would have been unjust.

Fleet manager Andy Hunt graciously accepted his side’s good fortune, but added “We made our own luck thanks to one of our customary never-say-die performances.”

Spurs remain in tenth place in the league. On Saturday, they entertain Team Solent in the final game of the season (Southwood: kick-off 3.00).

Team: Ryan Bone; Mike Ford; James Wills (sub James Powell 75); Glen Hunt (c); Alex Pickering; Adam Aimable; Kevin Vallance; Mindy Kuodys; James Chillery; Sam Knowles; Tom Chillery

Spurs were well beaten by a very impressive Portchester side who, barring an improbable mathematical freak, are now assured of Wessex Premier Division football next season.

From the kick-off, Portchester took the initiative, which they were never going to lose. Indeed they might have scored in the second minute but fluffed a straightforward chance. As the game developed Spurs made sporadic breaks, but never really threatened the home goal and Portchester made a series of chances, all of which they squandered. Just before half-time, Jack Chambers turned awkwardly and had to be stretchered off with what turned out to be torn knee ligaments.

The second half continued in the same vein, with Portchester piling on the pressure but unable to score because of poor finishing, determined defence by Fleet – including a last-ditch goal-line clearance by Sam Cobbett – and some fine saves from Ryan Bone. However ten minutes into the half, the league’s top scorer Simon Woods rounded Bone and although he scuffed his shot, it wrong-footed the Spurs defence and trickled over the line off the far post. Spurs continued to battle, but without causing the home defence any serious problems, and Portchester continued to press. Two minutes from the end of normal time Woods slid home a left-wing cross to notch his 37th goal of the season, and make the score line a fairer reflection of the game.

Fleet manager Andy Hunt was generous in defeat, saying “We had a few regulars missing and weren’t at our best, but take nothing away from Portchester who thoroughly deserve their promotion. They’re probably the best side we’ve played this season.”

Spurs remain in tenth place in the league. On Saturday, they make the long trip to the New Forest where they will meet Ringwood Town for their last away game of the season (kick-off 3.00).

Team: Ryan Bone; Sam Cobbett; James Wills; Glen Hunt (c); Mindy Kuodys; Adam Aimable; James Chillery; Jack Chambers (sub James Powell 40); Kevin Vallance (sub Rinaldo Kumbakisaka 70); Sam Knowles; Tom Chillery

Spurs achieved a 100% success from their Easter games, but they would be the first to admit that this victory owed more to smash-and-grab than to a well crafted and merited success.

The game started brightly as both sides attacked at every opportunity with Tadley particularly lively. After 20 minutes, and somewhat against the run of the play, James Wills brilliantly made space for himself on the left despite the attention of several Tadley players and sent an inch-perfect through ball to Sam Knowles who slipped the ball beyond the advancing Darren Maunder to give Spurs the lead. Quarter of an hour later, the Fleet defence could only half-clear a corner and Peter White hammered home an unstoppable volley with his left foot – judging by his splendid post-goal mime, the foot he normally uses only to stand on – to equalise.

After the break, Calleva began to get on top, and soon Jason Graham outpaced the Spurs defence before slotting the ball past Ryan Bone to make the score 2-1 for a deserved lead. But this was not to last long as Fleet fought back and after 60 minutes, Knowles rose above the Tadley defence to head in a right-wing corner to bring the scores level again. After this, Calleva took control of the game, and only desperate defence by Fleet and some good saves by Bone kept the score-sheet equal. As the game moved into stoppage time, there came the sucker punch. A loose ball on the edge of the Tadley box fell to Knowles, and he swivelled faster than the QE2 to put the ball beyond Maunder’s reach into the corner to complete his hat-trick and gain Spurs a scarcely deserved three points.

Spurs remain in tenth place in the league. On Saturday, they visit the form team in the league, AFC Portchester, (kick-off 3.00).

Team: Ryan Bone; Alex Pickering; James Wills; Glen Hunt (c); Mike Ford; Dave Richards; James Chillery; Sam Cobbett; Rinaldo Kumbakisaka (sub James Powell 65); Sam Knowles; Tom Chillery

Spurs came into the match with a team depleted by holidays and work commitments. However, after taking an early lead against a young Petersfield team, they were able to hold on and earned a narrow victory in what was a very close-fought game.

The game started badly for Spurs as skipper Chris Musgrove landed awkwardly after a first-minute Town corner and sustained an ankle injury, which meant that his game was ended before it had really started. As the game developed, both sides attacked brightly and Spurs took the lead after ten minutes when Tom Chillery was tripped just inside the Petersfield box and made no mistake from the resulting penalty. For the rest of the half, Town shaded possession, but Fleet created more chances on the break. However, they spurned them all and half-time came with no addition to the score. Midway through the half, a hamstring injury had forced in-form striker Neil Selby off leaving Spurs with three-quarters of the game to play and no further substitutes to call upon.

After the break, Petersfield dominated possession but Spurs defended valiantly and restricted the visitors’ scoring chances to a handful. Although Town freshened up their team by bringing all their substitutes on, they were still able to create very few chances. The game rather petered out as Town rarely looked like scoring and Fleet’s defence held out without too much difficulty.

After the game, manager Andy Hunt said “It may not have been the prettiest of wins, but hats off to the lads for their attitude and effort”.

Spurs have risen to tenth place in the league. On Monday, they visit Tadley Calleva (kick-off 3.00).

Team: Ryan Bone; Sam Cobbett; James Wills; Mike Ford; Glen Hunt; Chris Musgrove (c) (sub Rinaldo Kumbakisaka 4); James Chillery; James Powell; Neil Selby (sub Danny Roberts 25); Sam Knowles; Tom Chillery

Stockbridge 1 Fleet Spurs 4

Fleet Spurs visited Stockbridge with six first team squad players missing, but the quality of players on show were too strong for the home side over ninety minutes. The home side started the brighter, finding joy in wide areas but the promising approach play had little end product. After the opening exchanges Fleet started to take control, looking solid throughout, with Mindy Kuodys in particular bossing the midfield. The front three of Knowles, Chillery & Selby were looking dangerous, causing problems with their movement & link up play. Set pieces in particular were causing panic in the home defence, following a fantastic delivery from a Chillery free kick out wide Musgrove had his effort expertly saved at point blank range only for the rebound to be thumped home from six yards by Kuodys. Fleet made it two only minutes later, this time from a corner, again the delivery was dangerous & when the ball fell to Selby just outside the six yard box he made no mistake rifling the ball into the roof of the net. Fleet were now firmly in control, playing some neat football, but a lack of concentration on the stroke of half time allowed the home striker to latch onto a long ball over the top & slot past Bone from the edge of the area. The second half proved to be a real test of Fleet’s character, Stockbridge came flying out of the traps & applied pressure of their own, the defence generally stood firm but were fortunate not to concede when a free kick from the edge of the area looked to have squeezed between Bone & the post & over the line, the referee waved play on much to the dismay of the home team. Fleet were now playing more of a counter attacking game & Chillery provided some relief when one on one kept his composure to drive the ball past the home goalie to make it 3-1. This goal seemed to kill off the hopes of a comeback from Stockbridge, Knowles came close on a couple of occasions, hitting the far post when cutting in from the left, he managed to open his goal scoring account on his return to the club with just a few minutes left, he drove past the home defence & into the penalty area before slotting the ball just inside the post to make it 4-1. Although for a twenty minute period in the second half Fleet were put under pressure they must be commended for a thoroughly professional performance. Fleet remain in 12th place.

Team: Ryan Bone, Sam Cobbett, Alex Pickering, Chris Musgrove©, James Wills, Mike Ford, Mindy Kuodys, Jack Chambers, Neil Selby, Tom Chillery, (Rinaldo Kumbasiaka, 70), Sam Knowles.

Next up, Fleet welcome Petersfield Town to Kennels Lane on Saturday, 7th April.

Whitchurch grabbed the only goal to gain a narrow victory in a game of few chances.

From the start it was clear that both sides would have difficulty in controlling the ball properly on a very hard end-of-season pitch. For the first twenty minutes, the ball spent most of the time in the air and neither side could retain possession for more than a couple of passes, so it was no surprise that the game was sterile with neither team creating anything worthwhile. However, midway through the half, impressive home striker Paul Coventry picked up a through ball, held off the Fleet defence and coolly lofted the ball over Ryan Bone and into the net.

After the break, the game continued in a similar vein, though the quality of the play improved somewhat as both sides had more success keeping the ball. However neither keeper had a difficult save to make until the last few minutes as both defences coped competently with everything that was thrown at them. As the end of the game approached, Spurs began to exert real pressure on the home defence, forcing a number of corners. The visitors’ clearest chance came at the end of normal time when James Wills had a looping header well turned over by keeper Tom Hindmarsh. At the other end, Alex Dockree somehow worked himself into a clear scoring position, but Bone saved well with his legs, and the game finished with no further score.

Spurs remain in twelfth place in the league. Next Saturday they visit Stockbridge (kick-off 3.00).

Team: Ryan Bone; Glen Hunt; James Wills; Mindy Kuodys; Alex Pickering; Chris Musgrove (c); James Chillery; Sam Cobbett (sub Mike Ford 78); Neil Selby (sub Rinaldo Kumbakisaka 74); Sam Knowles; Jack Chambers

As last week for Spurs, this was a fair result to a lively game with no hint of mid-table mediocrity or complacency as both teams battled to the utmost in an attempt to gain an advantage.

Spurs started off strongly and might have scored twice in the first five minutes. First Sam Knowles almost made a dream start on his return to the club, beating keeper Louis Latouche but also the far post and then Chris Musgrove shot narrowly past the post. Pewsey were no pushover themselves and created a number of chances on the break. However, Fleet took the lead after half an hour when Knowles was adjudged to have been fouled just outside the box and James Wills curled a perfect free-lick into the far top corner. Spurs had been the better side for most of the half, and at the break were very good value for their lead.

After the interval, the pattern of the game changed as Pewsey took the game to Fleet, and after ten minutes Tom Ballard held off a firm challenge from Alex Pickering and fired powerfully just inside the post. The visitors continued on top, but as the game progressed, the goal chances grew fewer as both sides began to feel the effect of their exertions in the first half. Both sides appeared to have settled for the draw, until well into stoppage time Rinaldo Kumbakisaka turned on the ball and shot from five yards out, but keeper Latouche dived to his left to keep the ball out with a magnificent save.

Spurs were delighted to welcome back Jack Chambers as well as Knowles and both players made a positive difference to the team’s performance. They remain in twelfth place in the league. Next Saturday they visit Whitchurch United (kick-off 3.00).

Team: Ryan Bone; Sam Cobbett; James Wills; Mindy Kuodys; Alex Pickering; Dave Richards (sub Rinaldo Kumbakisaka 55); Jack Chambers (sub Ryan Adger 75); Andy Sullivan; Aaron Jessavala; Sam Knowles; Chris Musgrove (c).

This was a fair result to a lively game, though Spurs must be rueing the chances that they squandered, notably a missed second-half penalty.

Brockenhurst started off like a train and took the lead in the first minute when dozy defending by Spurs enabled striker Richard Morse to head in a left-wing cross. For the next ten minutes, the New Forest side threatened to score every time they attacked, and only a fine save by Ryan Bone kept the deficit to one goal. After that, Fleet gradually pulled themselves back into the game and began to create half-chances. Midway through the half, Neil Selby restored equality with a close-range header after a game of head tennis in the box following a Tom Chillery corner. Selby then might have given Spurs the lead, but he shot over after good work by Chillery. The first half had been a breathless affair with both sides willing to attack and going near on a number of occasions.

After the break, Brock came out strongly just as in the first half, but this time Spurs’ defence held out. As the half developed, the pace of the game inevitably slowed, but both sides continued to create chances. After an hour, Ben Sullivan barged Rinaldo Kumbakisaka unnecessarily in the area and the referee awarded a penalty. However, Chillery changed his mind as he shot and Scott O’Rourke was able to dive to his left and smother the kick. As the game drew to a close, Brockenhurst could see their promotion challenge beginning to fade if they dropped points and threw everything into attack for the last few minutes. However, the Spurs defenders put their bodies on the line to prevent any further score, and when the home side finally beat Bone, the ball rebounded off the post and was safely cleared for a corner by James Wills.

Manager Andy Hunt said “We’ve deservedly held one of the strongest sides in the league, and with a bit more luck might even have taken all three points. Tribute to the lads whose spirit was magnificent throughout.”

Spurs remain in twelfth place in the league. Next Saturday they entertain improving Pewsey Vale at Southwood (kick-off 3.00).

Team: Ryan Bone; Glen Hunt (sub Mindy Kuodys 83); James Wills; Mike Ford; Alex Pickering; Dave Richards; Kevin Vallance; Chris Musgrove (c); Rinaldo Kumbakisaka (sub Sam Cobbett 78); Neil Selby; Tom Chillery.

Spurs’ unbeaten record in 2012 was shattered as they came crashing to earth against an excellent Portchester side at Southwood. They might have struggled even with eleven men throughout, but an early dismissal made the result inevitable.

Both sides started brightly, but in the sixth minute came the moment that defined the game when the referee deemed Dave Richards to have used his elbow dangerously in a challenge and sent the big defender off. After that, it was uphill all the way for Fleet, and soon Blu Boam gave the visitors the lead with a magnificent left-foot drive from outside the box. Spurs battled well and created some good chances on the break, but finally cracked five minutes before the interval when James Wills brought down Mark Collis just inside the box and Simon Woods made no mistake from the spot.

After half-time Portchester soon extended their lead when Woods tricked the home defence and shot home off the inside of the far post for his 24th league goal of the season. Five minutes later, things became even worse for Spurs as Boam forced the ball home after Ryan Bone had saved well from another Woods shot. With the game comfortably won, the visitors seemed to take their foot off the gas, though Bone had to make some outstanding saves, and the score remained unchanged until stoppage time when Sam Cobbett flattened sub Jay Ripiner inside the area and skipper Kev Pottage rifled the ball home for the fifth goal.

Spurs remain in eleventh place in the league. Next Saturday they visit the New Forest to take on high-flying Brockenhurst (kick-off 3.00).

Team: Ryan Bone; Mike Ford; James Wills; Kev Vallance; Dave Richards; Chris Musgrove (c); Sam Cobbett; David Blake (sub Ryan Adger 62); Neil Selby (sub Rinaldo Kumbakisaka 60); James Chillery; Tom Chillery.