Men's 3rd XI vs Fareham 6

After two high scoring wins, Romsey 3s knew a late away trip to Fareham was going to be a real challenge.

The game started evenly, with the ball not getting into either circle - this until Colin Harwood, near the halfway line on the left side, lifted a reverse pass over a Fareham stick to put Dylan W-J away down the left wing. Dylan cut-in, and crossed to Joe Billet; his first shot was saved by the keeper but his follow-up flew into the net - Romsey 1-0 up, 10 minutes in.

Romsey could have doubled their lead when Colin H - this time on the right, played in Zach W-J - powered down the right, and crossed to Dylan at the back post, whose shot at a tight angle went just wide.

Fareham rallied, and Romsey found themselves over-run for a time in the centre of the pitch. A smart through ball saw the Fareham forward one-on-one with Romsey keeper Harry, the experienced forward smashing an unstoppable equaliser.

Fareham were now on top, but Romsey regained their shape and pushed up the pitch - moving into the Fareham ‘D’, Oliver Bryant pushed the ball goalwards; it looped up off a Fareham stick, with poacher Colin nipping in to strike the ball waist height, past the Fareham keeper! Romsey back in front at 2-1… even if Colin did suffer a whack on the finger for his troubles.

Shortly afterwards, Romsey won a penalty corner - Chris Harwood pushed out to Colin, who passed across the ‘D’ to a lurking Zach W-J - his shot on the turn finding the far corner for 3-1.

Fareham were still pushing for a goal, when Tom Border broke forward and forced his way in to the Fareham circle and shot - the deflection was kind, and the shot cannoned off a Fareham stick to put Romsey 4-1 up, with less than 5 minutes to go until half-time. With the break looming, it was Fareham who wrestled the upper hand - winning their own penalty corner which. The resulting shot was saved brilliantly by Harry, and then Tom Le Coq off the line. As the pressure built, the next Fareham move needed another brilliant goal line clearance from Jon Marsh, before the pressure finally told - another penalty corner, despite Harry saving the first shot, found its way home for Fareham. 4-2 at the end of an entertaining first half. 

Fareham started the second half brightly, but it was Romsey who found some useful opportunities to break down the left; most notably through Shaun Coote and Man of the Match Matt B. But Romsey couldn’t capitalise - and it was Fareham who struck next. Another penalty corner dispatched for 4-3, with 25 minutes to play.

With pressure rising and a lot at stake, the Romsey side once again showed the grit and determination that’s characterised them this season - Chris H and Matt B in particular combining to wrestle possession back from Fareham, and to regain some control in the middle. The pressure began to tell - a ball to Colin stretching the backline to the very left-hand corner, was crossed to Phil Humphreys marauding up from right back, with his shot then hitting the post. A penalty corner was then put just wide by Jon Marsh, with Oliver Bryant having a fine shot saved, before trying to lay the rebound on for poacher Harwood to knock home… only for the Fareham keeper to once again thwart his effort.

But Romsey was not to be denied. With 12 minutes to go, Chris H injected another penalty corner - a couple of attempts resulting in the ball finding its way back to him to knock it in from a tight angle… and the hard-earned two-goal cushion, that took a battling Romsey to a well-deserved 5-3!