The first game in September for us but our sixth home league game of the season- that’s getting on for a third of the home games inside a month!!
Anyway all the action happened inside the first 23 minutes of a close exciting encounter at the Vic this afternoon. Kicking towards the Winton End in the opening half, Poppies took a second minute lead when KEMBLE cheekily lobbed Douglas in the visiting goal from around the edge of the penalty area. Poppies then doubled their lead when Jeffes was held in the penalty area and it was KEMBLE again who picked up the ball and struck the penalty home although the keeper guessed correctly and got more than a hand to it- but not enough to stop it.
Less than two minutes later Byrne was adjudged to have held Buckland after a very long unchallenged run and Fareham were awarded a penalty as well. LINDSEY converted well to bring Fareham back into the game. The Creeksiders almost got back on level terms on the quarter hour when a header from Spurway was well held by Vaughan. However the game was all square on 23 minutes when from a free kick near the touch line about twelve yards out was powerfully headed home by KIRBY from close range.
Fareham had a couple of chances to grab the lead when Lindsey had a header that went wide and almost scored when collecting a weak clearance.
In a game that was then dominated by the midfield, the chances were far and few between. The best chance for Poppies coming with 15 minutes remaining- a deep free kick from Arnold came through to Kemble who cracked the ball goalwards first time only to see it bounce fractionally wide.