For the second week in a row Fareham went into the half-time break with the scores level before stepping up their performance and pulling clear for a convincing victory as they beat Maidenhead 6-1 at home last Saturday.

Fareham took to the pitch with another strong line up, including a league debut for Georgie White who has joined us from Chichester. The game began in surprisingly warm weather but with some dark clouds menacing in the distance. The home team began brightly and put the visitors under pressure with a series of early penalty corners. They came close to opening the scoring in the 3rd minute after a long run by Gracie Coleman set up a dangerous cross from the right by Lauren Beagrie which in turn led to a shot from Amy Hill which was saved by Katie Hudson in the Maidenhead goal who conceded a long corner.

Most of the play had been in the Maidenhead half and the hosts had another good chance when Gracie glided effortlessly into the ‘D’ after 15 minutes before being denied by a save from the keeper. It was not long though before the breakthrough came. A penalty corner in the 18th minute did not begin too promisingly as the ball was not stopped cleanly on the edge of the area but Lauren Beagrie took the ball out to the right before crossing to the far post. It was just outside the reach of Amy Hill but LIBBY WHITE, who initiated the play, was on hand by the post to collect the ball and score her first goal for Fareham.

Two minutes later another save from the visitor’s keeper kept out a shot from Sarah Atkinson after she had been set up by Jenny Sinclair who intercepted a pass just outside the ’23.’ The pressure was maintained and Sarah came close again from a penalty corner when her shot was kept out by a defender’s stick on the line. Another chance came for Gracie Coleman after 25 minutes but again the keeper was in position to save her shot.

Up to this point the home side had total control of the game but a momentary lapse in concentration in the 30th minute led indirectly to the Maidenhead goal which made it 1-1. A difficult pass put a defender under pressure to start the attack. Fareham had chances to clear the danger before Alicia Salter was dispossessed by Mia Rogers who drove into the ‘D’ before finding SARAH DOWNES who took the ball wide of Sophia Barclay before scoring.

The visitors looked dangerous again moments later. Stella Forde broke quickly and had a chance to set up a team mate in the area but she delayed slightly and Katie Paxman got across to remove the danger. The last chance of the first half fell to the home side three minutes before the interval. A long pass down the right from Alicia Salter sent Georgie White clear and into the ‘D’. Her shot from a tight angle was just the wrong side of the near post when a pass inside to Zoe Stride was also an option.

Being level at half-time was frustrating as Fareham had dominated the half and looked comfortable for all bar a few minutes just before the break. Nevertheless they were playing well enough to feel confident that they would have opportunities to make amends after the break.

The second half began in a brief downpour. It didn’t last long but Maidenhead would have to weather a lengthier storm throughout the remainder of the game as Fareham took charge. Katie Paxman had a shot saved by the keeper from an early penalty corner but the pressure continued and led to a second PC in the 40th minute. The ball was slipped to Gracie Coleman before the ball came back across for TARA LEMON, the skipper, to score with a shot into the far bottom corner to regain the lead for the home team.

Four minutes later Fareham won another PC after Alicia Salter was fouled in the area. The ball was switched left from the set play and KATIE PAXMAN, on her reverse side, finished with a powerful shot under the keeper to open up a two goal lead.

After conceding two quick goals, Maidenhead tried to rebuild and saw more of the ball for the next few minutes but the home side looked composed and were never seriously troubled during this spell. Fareham began to pick up the pace again and won another penalty corner in the 58th minute after yet another dangerous burst into the ‘D’ from Gracie Coleman. The goal that followed looked deceptively simple as KATIE PAXMAN received the injection before threading a shot though the defence into the far corner for a 4-1 lead.

The three points now looked safe but the home side were looking for more goals. Sarah Atkinson did well to force another PC three minutes later and almost followed up with a goal as her shot from the corner was tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper. A quick pass into the goalmouth from the resulting long corner caused more panic in the Maidenhead defence but the ball was cleared before Gracie could get a decisive touch.

The reprieve did not last long as goal number five followed in the 63rd minute. Sammie Powell intercepted a clearance and set up a shot for Sarah Atkinson, The keeper took most of the pace out of the shot but the ball continued to roll towards goal and AMY HILL outsprinted a defender to get the final touch from very close range.

The final goal came in the 66th minute. Gracie Coleman beat two defenders to get into the ‘D’ and cross from near the goal line. Georgie White was close to getting a touch before Amy Hill had a shot blocked. The ball came out to SARAH ATKINSON who fired it into the net for the goal she deserved, making it 6-1.

That was the end of the scoring but there was one more opportunity to enjoy in the final minute. A lovely patient passing move finished with another burst into the area by Gracie who saw her high shot saved by the keeper just inside the post.

The final score reflected Fareham’s dominance and it was another impressive second half. With one more game to go before the half term break the first phase of the season is almost complete. It has gone well so far and we have already surpassed our goals total for the whole of last season ! However, we are likely to be tested more between now and Christmas as we have yet to play any of the other teams in the top half of the table. We are one of three sides who have won all four of their matches and on Saturday we will meet one of the other two when we travel to play Basingstoke at Down Grange (13.30).