ALRESFORD TOWN 1, SHOLING 7

STRUGGLING Alresford Town sank to the bottom of the Premier Division of the Sydenhams Wessex League after a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of 10-man Sholing on Saturday.

Despite having the advantage of seeing Dean Faithfull sent off after 14 minutes for a professional foul, the Magpies had no answer to in-form Sholing’s constant goal threat – despite the visitors being without the league’s top scorer through injury.

A quiet opening 10 minutes at Arlebury Park gave no indication of the fireworks to come, with James Davis on hand to tap in the opening goal from close range to give Sholing the lead on 13 minures after Jamie Bulpitt’s run and cross into the six-yard box.

Sixty seconds later the game really exploded into life when Faithfull was shown the red card, but it in no way hindered a Sholing side who extended their unbeaten run to nine games.

It proved to be a double whammy for the visitors, though, as former Southampton and Reading player Brian Howard curled a 25-yard free kick inside the post to equalise.

That was as good as it got for Alresford as The Boatman upped their game, seemingly in response to the perceived injustice of the sending off, retaking the lead when Byron Mason took advantage of indecision from the home goalkeeper before smashing the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards.

And 2-1 soon became 3-1 when Bulpitt opened his account for Sholing with a thunderous effort from 35 yards.

The second half was more of the same with Alresford unable to take advantage of their one-man advantage and Marv McLean made it 4-1 with a fine curler into the top corner from just outside the box while James Davis added a fifth when his first-time effort from the right-hand edge of the penalty area arrowed into the opposite corner past the shellshocked Magpies goalkeeper.

Things went from bad to worse for rock-bottom Alresford as Sholing made it 6-1 on 64 minutes when Dan Miller got on the end of Alex Sawyer’s inswinging corner, while Sawyer was again the provider for Sholing’s seventh goal as his corner was met firmly by the head of Mason to leave the Magpies in tatters and rooted to the foot of the table.

Alresford Town : Howard, Carter, Carrick, Fox, Dexter, Bentley, Price, Howard, Mulhern, Ben Thompson (Marcinkawski 60), Donaldson. Subs (not used): Maynard, Brooks.

Next Tuesday, Alresford Town face another tough game when they entertain second-placed Andover Town in the Premier Division of the Sydenhams Wessex League (kick-off 7.45pm).

Goals from Gary Austin and former Petersfield Town full-back Dan Woodward lifted Horndean up to fourth place in the Premier Division of the Sydenhams Wessex League after a 2-1 win at home to Verwood Town on Saturday.