After two close defeats against the front runners in Premier Division 1, Fareham returned home last Saturday and, powered by their pink socks, they produced a very satisfying performance to continue their remarkable run against Bournemouth. Since the Dorset side moved from the West League to the South, and then South Central, Fareham have managed to win all ten league matches between the sides despite the games regularly being very competitive and close.

The Bournemouth team included a former Fareham player - Emma Boddington. Despite Abbey Carroll and Issie Chapman missing their first games this season, and with Alicia Salter also unavailable, Fareham was still able to field a strong side and make a good start – Kendra Druce and Eleanor Pybus combining to win their first penalty corner inside a minute.

The first attack from Bournemouth saw a pass towards the near post which was deflected harmlessly wide in the 6th minute. Two minutes later Annabel McGrath set up a chance for Eleanor Pybus on the left side of the ‘D’ but her shot was parried behind by the keeper at the near post.

Bournemouth’s first PC came in the 10th minute when a shot from Amy Herbert to Sophia Barclay’s left was picked off in mid-air by Annabel McGrath and cleared. It was from another Bournemouth PC in the 16th minute that the visitors side took the lead. ELEANOR BLAND wrong-footed Sophia with a low shot to the left of the keeper.

The visitors won an early PC at the start of the 2nd quarter but Sophia kept the shot out with her boot. A couple of minutes later there was controversy when Eleanor Pybus’ shot from a PC went into the goal off a defender but the umpire had already blown just before the ball crossed the line. The PC was retaken in the 22nd minute. Tara Lemon shot from the right towards the far post where Lexie Gandy in the Bournemouth goal kept it out with her outstretched leg only for SAM POWELL to gather the rebound and dispatch it into the goal for the equalizer.

Rosie Gollings broke dangerously down the left two minutes later but Sophia Barclay calmly cut down the angle before kicking the shot clear. Another break shortly after was thwarted when Sophia rushed out of goal to tidy up at the back.

The game had become more open and Fareham took the lead for the first time in the 32nd minute from a PC. The initial corner followed good work by Hannah Ward to tee up a shot for Eleanor Pybus which was saved by the keeper but Kendra Druce found a Bournemouth foot in the ‘D’ to win the corner. The first shot was blocked to set up another PC straight away. From the second injection the ball was moved outside the five metre arc by Tara Lemon before ELEANOR PYBUS drove back into the ‘D’, shrugged off a couple of challenges and finished with a quality shot high to the keeper’s left.

Fareham led 2-1 at the break and it didn’t take long before the home side stretched their advantage with a goal in the 38th minute. Lois Haigh won the ball and drove into the ‘D’ from the left before Eleanor Pybus crossed from near the goal line and a slightly surprised but very delighted ALBA BROWNING-SANCHEZ completed the move to score her first league goal from near the far post.

That proved to be the deciding moment even though half an hour remained. There were relatively few goalscoring opportunities from this point on but the home side managed the game well, always looking in control and potentially able to add more goals if they were needed.

Bournemouth had one dangerous run into the ‘D’ in the third quarter from Elicia Kennedy but Sophia got down well to smother her shot and the hosts also had another chance when Eleanor Pybus had a shot deflected over the bar for a long corner. Fareham continued to move the ball well in the final quarter but the scoring for the day was complete.

Fareham played very well and it was good to see three goals scored after a couple of games against strong defences in Oxford and Reading when we failed to score. Our next match is on 31st October after the half term break. We are at home against Winchester (13.30) who comfortably won promotion from Premier 2 in March and have made a steady start to this season.