Fareham Fall To Leaders After Late Winning Goal

Fareham faced a difficult task on Saturday at home to the league leaders, Bristol Firebrands. The visitors had the majority of goalscoring opportunities and were good value for their first half lead but the home team fought back strongly in the second half and equalised before a late winning goal snatched all the points for the Gloucestershire club.

With goals at a premium, the absence of Sarah Atkinson and Isabel Austin weakened the forward line but Fareham were still able to field a strong line up.

Fareham made several promising forays into Bristol territory in the opening quarter as both sides looked for a goal. Bella Slawin, the Firebrands captain, was a constant threat and she was responsible for the only real shot of note in the first quarter, which ended goalless.

The visitors began strongly in the 2nd quarter and could have scored in the 21st minute but for a critical block by Aimee Timms which snuffed out a big scoring chance. Seconds later another long pass into the ‘D’ created a further opportunity but this time it was Sophia Barclay who reacted quickly to remove the danger.

Despite the defensive vigilance, Bristol duly took the lead in the 24th minute. An incisive pass across the area fell to MARIA ANDREWS who slotted the ball past Sophia and inside the left hand post.

Four minutes later the teams were almost level after a through ball from Annabel Vigar set up a chance for Hollie Smith, whose shot from the top right of the ‘D’ beat the keeper but passed agonizingly just wide of the far post.

Play resumed after the half-time break with the Fareham goal under further pressure. Sophia Barclay was kept busy and made two important saves, including a stop which went behind for a long corner after a shot from Beth Richards-Doughty who had found herself in space in the area. Five minutes later, in the 43rd minute, another Firebrands shot deflected off a defender before shaving the post. The quarter had been mostly dominated by the visitors but Fareham had defended stubbornly and the score remained 1-0 heading into the final quarter.

The hosts lifted themselves as the 4th quarter began and the momentum of the game shifted in their favour. Georgia Collins shot narrowly wide of the far post after a dangerous break in the 55th minute and it wasn’t long before they earned a penalty corner which quickly led to a second, well-worked, PC in the 57th minute and brought the equaliser. Katie Paxman shot from just inside the area and ALICIA CAILLARD deflected the shot past Rhianna Kirby in the Firebrands goal to bring the scores level.

With their place at the head of the table in jeopardy, Bristol hit back hard and with ten minutes to play they initiated a dangerous move down the right which led to three shots on goal, all saved by Sophia, culminating in a penalty corner which was cleared.

Both sides were now looking for the winning goal and although Fareham worked well as a team to try to create an opening it was the visitors who found the breakthrough in the 67th minute when LIZZIE COOK finished well in front of goal after a cross from the right.

It felt like a cruel blow in the circumstances but, instead of feeling sorry for themselves, the hosts looked to draw level again in the final couple of minutes and the opportunity came in the 69th minute when they won a penalty corner. Once again the PC was well executed but Rhianna Kirby preserved the victory for the leaders with a goal line save as Katie Paxman tried to squeeze the final shot just inside the post.

I don’t think it could be said that Firebrands had not done enough to deserve the win, having been on top for long periods, but Fareham fought back well and deserved something for their efforts. There was not much between the two sides overall but the presence of a couple of particularly good players in the Bristol side probably just made the difference.

Before the match we trailed eighth-placed Cheltenham by seven points but they gained a crucial three points after beating Basingstoke (9th). This has moved them further clear of the relegation zone. We are now nine points from safety and with a significantly worse goal difference than Oxford Hawks, who now occupy eighth and are our opponents at Henry Cort on Saturday (13.30).

PS I haven’t had a chance to watch the video of the game so please make allowances for any lapses in my memory or figments of my imagination.