Report

Bournemouth Sports maintained their tenuous grip on second place in the table with a very competent display on a difficult pitch at Aldermaston. For once, few changes in the starting lineup were necessary, the only change being Sam Yeats brought in for Tom Stone, and he promptly turned in a Man Of The Match performance.

A quiet opening belied the number of chances that Sports would create, and spurn, before going ahead just before the half hour mark. On 8 Mark Gunter sent Tony Bellot in but his hurried shot flew straight at Aldermaston keeper, Ben Smith. Two minutes later Bellot turned provider with a flick to Simon Croydon but his shot flew wide of the right hand post. Then Sam Yeats put Mark Gunter in on goal and his chip beat the oncoming keeper but dropped inches wide of the left post. A minute later and Ben Smith pulled off another good save to deny Tony Bellot. Barely 15 minutes had gone and Sports were running the Aldermaston defence ragged. Mark Gunter was brought down crudely by the promptly booked Dean Brookfield and from the ensuing free kick Tom Yeats saw his shot fly straight into the arms of Smith in the Aldermaston goal. Then on 19 and 22 minutes Tony Bellot saw two more efforts fly wide or over.

At last, on 27 minutes, a reward for complete domination saw Sports go ahead. A throw in on the left was nodded on by Simon Croydon and Mark Gunter's stabbed shot bounced off the knees of Smith and fell kindly for Tony Bellot, who finished at the far post to put Sports 1-0 up. It was no more than they deserved with Sam Yeats, Mark Gunter and Simon Croydon combining well in midfield and the whole Sports team combining to press well on the few occasions when Aldermaston had possession. Cruel that they were to equalise completely out of the blue on 33 minutes when a tackle saw the ball fly out to the edge of the area and Kai Parton Edey's miscontrolled shot sailed high over Kyle Roberjot in the Sports goal and down off the underside of the crossbar. A fluke but a goal nonetheless and the sides were tied at 1-1. The goal gave Aldermaston a little hope but as half-time approached Sports were unlucky not to regain their lead when Mark Gunter's shot struck the base of the left hand post and flew away to safety.

Straight from half-time Sports continued to press and as the midfield continued to exchange passes and find the willing runs of the forwards, the 57th minute saw Mark Gunter pick out Ryan Bladen on the left hand edge of the box and he cut inside, drew the keeper and finished coolly to restore Sports' lead. Aldermaston were tiring and it looked only a matter of time before Sports would extend their lead and they duly did on 65 minutes when Tom Yeats found Tony Bellot some way out from goal. He cut right and unleashed a fierce drive some 20 yards out and there was nothing the hapless Smith could do as the ball flashed past him. A handball 5 minutes later offer Bellot the chance to complete his hat-trick but his attempt was well saved by the keeper and the ball cleared to safety.

At 3-1 the game petered out comfortably for Sports and they were able to send on all three substitutes in the second half and see the game out without extending themselves. This was a very good performance against a good, young Aldermaston side in 5th place in the table and Sports seem to be settling into their rhythm as the half-way stage of the season approaches. Liphook and QK, in particular, look to be the teams mostly like to be champions this season but neither will relish the prospect of visiting Chapel Gate in the months ahead.

Sports host Alton Athletic in the 3rd Round of the Hampshire Intermediate Cup on Saturday.