ALDERSHOT & FARNHAM 5, SOUTHAMPTON UNI II 0

THE University were one of the few teams to take points from Aldershot & Farnham in the first half of the season, and with the Hampshire 2 championship still up for grabs A&F could not afford any slip-up in their final home game of the season at Heath End School.

The students began with no keeper and only nine players due to a transportation mix-up, but the home side failed to capitalise against opponents who packed their defence and played with a kicking back and it was still goalless after ten minutes when University’s missing men arrived.

In the earlier game, the Southampton forwards had run non-stop and with the constant aerial threat of a stocky centre-back, had caused the A&F defence continual problems.

This time, A&F were well-prepared and their disciplined back line limited Southampton to only a few half-chances.

At the other end, Aldershot finally broke through with another well-executed flick from a short corner by Ian Jennings, moving him to 32 goals for the season.

George Rooke then collected a brace of goals from open play as the work-rate of the A&F midfield and attack began to prise open the students’ defence, the second of these taking the side past the 100 goals landmark.

The Farnham side maintained the pressure in the second half and forced a string of penalty corners, but the dry pitch and fast breaks from Southampton’s defence saw a lack of clear chances, even though Jennings tried his luck with a variety of routines.

A&F began to overrun the visitors and at one point captain Phil Rushmere, used to a defensive midfield role, found himself clear in the D. Despite a rocket- shot into the keeper and a fierce follow-up, he failed to score.

Ian Metcalfe finally put the game out of Southampton’s reach with a piledriver from the top of the D into the bottom corner, having had his first shot blocked, and then Rooke completed his hat-trick with a cool close- range finish.

A&F will feel they have buried memories of the previous fixture. They complete the season with two contrasting away fixtures: bottom side Andover II this Saturday and leaders Bournemouth II on April 1, the latter being a likely title-decider.