HAC 2,

HASLEMERE 8

THE Honourable Artillery Company were overrun as goals continued to flow for Haslemere.

The Blues scored eight on their trip to Dulwich last Saturday and a sixth straight win puts them six points clear at the top of the Hants/Surrey Regional 2.

With 46 goals scored in those six games, Haslemere have a remarkable goal difference of 35 against the next best of 9.

Against HAC, formidable opponents in the past, Haslemere were at full strength, with Rob Grech, Alex Messenger, Luca Signorelli and Barney Green all in the line-up.

They enjoyed ample possession as HAC loaded up their own half with everyone bar the striker in an effort not to concede early on. However, HAC, unlike previous opponents, had a greater attacking threat and went close when the ball was blazed across the D with no-one able to tap in.

This woke Haslemere up and a short corner gave them the chance to strike first. Nic Cope’s drag-flick was stopped, but Chris Fox was there to poach the opening goal.

It was not long before the travelling supporters were cheering again. A well-worked move turned defence into attack and leading scorer Cope, left unmarked in the D, took full advantage with a reverse-stick shot into the netting.

Just before half-time, Green showed great vision with a 45-yard pass to find Signorelli sneaking in on the back post and a high deflection into the net made it 3-0.

Haslemere had players switching position throughout the game to confuse their opponents. Grech, Nico Worrall, Messenger and Andy Major caused all sorts of problems on the flanks, and the chances were there to build an unassailable lead.

Bennett was having a storming game at left-back and it was only a matter of time before he got on the scoresheet. Picking the ball up wide of the left, he left four defenders in his wake before shooting hard past the keeper for Haslemere’s fourth.

Cope and Powell terrorized the HAC backs, no matter what flank they were on, and set each other up for further goals. Powell’s was a deflected effort from a Cope shot. Then Powell returned the favour, his through-ball setting up Cope who gleefully struck against the backboard.

The home side’s rare excursions into Haslemere territory did lead to chances and HAC narrowed the deficit with two good strikes.

There was no stopping Haslemere, though, and the team ethic was there to see when they celebrated Tristan Conoley’s first goal of the season.

The man who always tries hardest in training slotted home coolly after a well-worked short corner.

Having seen Conoley get his first, Worrall decided to follow suit and the tricky midfielder skilfully made space for himself to score on the reverse stick.

After breaking down a team defending deep, Haslemere showed why they are in a class of their own in this league at present by scoring eight expertly-taken goals.

Haslemere: Short, Fox, Bennett, Green, Dilworth, Roberts, Messenger, Grech, Major, Worrall, Cope, Conoley, Signorelli, Powell.

Haslemere host London Edwardians this Saturday (2pm).