HASLEMERE 11, CITY OF PORTSMOUTH 1

HASLEMERE are threatening to take Hants/Surrey Regional 2 by storm after scoring 38 goals in five matches.

The Blues hit double figures for the second time this season – they had earlier trounced Andover 10-2 – with Nic Cope scoring five of the 11 goals against bottom side City of Portsmouth.

The visitors were under the cosh from the start. Soon, Tristan Conoley burst into the D and his low cross hit a defender’s foot. From the resulting short corner, Cope executed a drag-flick high into the top corner.

Moments later, Cope picked the pocket of the Portsmouth centre-back and laid the ball on a plate for Andy Powell, who slotted under the stranded goalkeeper for the first of his hat-trick.

City managed to keep Haslemere to 2-0 at half-time and then pulled one back to give themselves hope of a comeback.

But Cope promptly drilled the ball home from eight yards and Powell added another with a low strike, while Alex Messenger converted a chance from another short corner when he was left free in the D and fooled the keeper with a cunning shot.

Cope scored with three more crisp finishes, once taking the ball past several defenders and then blasting into the bottom corner on the reverse stick.

James Bennett got on the scoreboard with two crisp hits from a well-oiled short-corner routine.

Andy Powell completed the rout with a deflected effort.

Cope becomes only the fourth player to score five times in a match for Haslemere, following Kostas Tsiamis, Graham Stopher and Nick Gay.

His first three came in a seven-minute burst shortly after the break and was the second fastest hat-trick in the history of the Regonal League.

Through-balls from Rob Grech, Messenger and Nico Worrall were all converted by the rampant Cope, the striker drilling the ball beyond the keeper each time. He has now netted 21 goals and is the league’s top scorer.

And although Cope was clinical in front of goal, Haslemere’s team performance was exceptional. The defence and midfield dominated the play and succeeded in their main objective which was to retain possession as long as they could. For long periods, Portsmouth just could not get involved. The Blues left the field to a deserved ovation.