ISLE OF WIGHT 0, ALDERSHOT & FARNHAM 9

ALDERSHOT & Farnham demolished third-placed Isle of Wight and stretched their undefeated run to 14 games as they keep the pressure on Hampshire 2 leaders Bournemouth II with six games of the season to go.

Relishing the mild weather in Ryde, A&F stormed out of the blocks, moving the ball quickly from push-back to Phil Rushmere just beyond the halfway line.

Taking a return pass at the top of the circle, Rushmere slid the ball to Ian Metcalfe who slotted home from close range before wheeling away to celebrate his 250th goal for the club over a 12-year career.

Isle of White responded well to this early setback and forced successive short corners. Farnham looked rattled under pressure, leading to a heated exchange between Ed Rushmere and coach Ian Jennings and a warning for foul language.

The frustrated Rushmere then shot high and wide with the goal gaping, but Max Hissy’s adventurous defending style was producing results. Some fine skills brought a short corner which Jennings calmly put beyond the keeper to steady the visitors’ nerves. A near replica move and corner followed and A&F took a 3-0 lead into half-time.

The second half started as the first had finished and a series of short corners were converted clinically by Jennings as A&F?powered into a 6-0 lead, one shot pinging off the crossbar and finding the back of the net via an unwitting defender.

Ross Ferguson, returning from injury, made some intelligent runs up front and was rewarded with the seventh goal. Aaron Buchanan slipped him the ball and Ferguson slotted under the onrushing keeper.

Stafford Brown and Rob Jervis displayed their youthful talent with well-worked goals to complete the rout.

Isle of Wight fought on to the final whistle, but with the late afternoon sun at their backs, A&F held on for a clean sheet, making it eight weeks without conceding a goal in the league.

This Saturday, Aldershot & Farnham host fourth-placed Winchester III at Heath End.

A&F squad: Wilkie, E Rushmere, Rickett, Strachan, Hissy, P Rushmere, Coote, Jervis, Jennings, Felix, Buchanan, Brown, Greaves, Metcalfe, Rooke, Ferguson.