Silvano Obeng hits hat-trick for Brockenhurst in victory over winless Christchurch

Wessex Football League Premier

Brockenhurst FC 4
Christchurch FC 3

BROCKENHURST and Christchurch played out a thrilling seesaw derby match, with lethal Silvano Obeng scoring an injury-time winner.

Obeng completed his hat-trick to cancel out an 89th minute equaliser on Tuesday evening.

The hosts raced into a two-goal lead after just 11 minutes, but after drawing level with a minute of regulation time left, Christchurch must have thought they’d salvaged a point. However, Obeng scored his sixth goal in four games to clinch all three points for Brockenhurst.

The result stretches Christchurch’s losing streak to four games as new manager Ben Hatch’s wait for a positive result continues.

Pat McManus’ side flew out of the blocks, and Obeng buried his first chance of the match, converting a cross from the right with a bullet header that flew past Sukhraj Dulai after just eight minutes.

Dulai was at fault for the second goal after rushing out and bringing down Obeng. The number nine was never going to miss from 12 yards.

Christchurch’s play improved, and Hatch would have been pleased to see his side fighting when many others might have collapsed.

Their endeavour was rewarded when Ollie Davis pulled one back with a decent strike in the 20th minute.

Just seven minutes later, Kieran O’Donnell managed to squeeze his shot past a diving James Mayo to make it 2-2.

However, the extraordinary first-half was not finished, with young Brockenhurst midfielder Christie Ward scoring a long-range wonder-strike.

Brockenhurst’s Lyle Simpson went close straight after the break, but his effort clattered back into play off the post. After that, the second half, in comparison, was pretty sedate until the last few minutes when Chris Speers scored a brilliant equaliser.

However, just like their previous fixture against Alton on Saturday, Christchurch conceded a heartbreaking 91st-minute injury-time winner after it looked like they were on course to collect their first point of the season.

Obeng outjumped his marker after finding some space to nod in a well-taken corner to spark wild celebrations and put his name at the top of the goal scorers’ chart.

Brockenhurst are back in action against unbeaten Moneyfields away from home on Saturday.

At the same time, Christchurch will look for a reversal of form at their Hurn Bridge Sports Club home against fellow strugglers Amesbury Town who, along with Christchurch and Hythe & Dibden, are the only sides so far not to register a point.