Hamble battered by blistering Bashley

Wessex League Premier

Bashley FC 6
Hamble Club FC 2

BASHLEY could have accumulated a cricket score against Hamble, but ultimately, ended up winning only 6-2 to move fourth in the table.

After a dominant first half which ended 1-0 to Bashley, the home side spurned multiple chances, but a thrilling seven-goal second half saw the hosts pull away and secure all three points against the Abbey.

Bashley kicked off with midfielder Lewis Ross spearheading the attack, and he led the charge with a shot that fizzed narrowly wide of the post in the first minute.

Hamble’s young keeper Lee Callum preserved the deadlock by smothering another Ross effort before dealing with a similar attempt from Harry Bunce.

The visitors announced their presence with a high ball into the area, but Bashley gloveman Sammy Thompson comfortably took the catch.

Bunce and Ross had further efforts saved whilst Thomson showed versatility by leaving his area to head clear a long ball.

The onslaught continued with defender Brendan Willson prominent at corners and Harrison White, Ollie Bradley, Ross, and the indefatigable Bunce failing to capitalise on chances.

In the 31st minute, Ross decided enough was enough and broke the deadlock by netting after decent approach play by Smith and White.

The salvo continued until half-time, but the Abbey defensive wall, by this time battered and bruised, held fast.

Within three minutes of the restart, Ross scored his second by hooking in a cross to the far post from an acute angle.

Bunce continued to torment Hamble and got his reward after latching onto a Bradley ball before squirming his way into shooting space and finding the far corner of the net.

Player-of-the-match Bradley got his reward for his wing domination by cutting in and shooting through a packed goalmouth five minutes later. Bradley followed that up with a second when he helped Ross’s shot over the line after the latter had found space with a muscular run into the box.

Finding themselves five goals up, Bashley relaxed, and Hamble punished them when Sam Woodward sped in from wide left and gave Thompson no chance with a cross-goal shot into the far corner.

Schoolboy Bue Bennett entered the fray, and he soon took advantage of another Bradley assist by making the net bulge.

With the match coming to an end, Woodward produced a near carbon copy repeat of his first to score a consolation.