HASLEMERE 4, CAMBERLEY & FARNBOROUGH 0

HASLEMERE go into the mid-season break with a four-point lead in Hants/Surrey 2 after beating mid-table Camberley & Farnborough at Woolmer Hill last Saturday.

The win rounded off a superb first half of the season, but the Blues were made to work hard by the gutsy visitors who conceded only once in the first period.

Only a Nic Cope goal separated the sides at half-time, but then strikes from Rob Grech, James Bennett and Ed Whitworth secured Haslemere’s ninth victory of the season.

And it was a great day for the club’s men’s section. Remarkably, all seven teams won their games.

Haslemere have netted an amazing 64 goals already this season, averaging just under six a game. However, the top scorers struggled for most of the first half against Camberley.

Whitworth got the ball in the goal, but celebrations were cut short as he was adjudged to have lifted the ball illegally.

But the near miss spurred the Blues into action and the first goal soon arrived.

Cope latched onto a Chris Fox through-ball and circled the D before finding Tristan Conoley. Cope continued his run and Conoley played the ball under his arm to release his team-mate who duly beat the keeper.

Haslemere used the midfield to better effect in the second half and moved the ball quicker. After a neat move down the left and an Andy Powell assist, Grech drilled the ball home to double the lead.

Haslemere handed a debut to new recruit James Evans who put in an impressive display, chasing every chance and tracking back as well.

Defender James Bennett scored the third, and what a goal it was that took his season’s tally to 16 league goals.

Having eluded Camberley’s centre-half on the 25, Bennett jinked into the D, leaving more defenders in his wake before passing the ball into the bottom corner.

Whitworth, having had one chalked off, finally got on the scoresheet with a nice drag-flick. Four-nil, game over.

Nico Worrell made his last appearance of the season in this game and his ability to score goals and create chances will be sorely missed.

Haslemere go into Christmas with the job half done, having won nine of their 11 games, drawn one and lost one.