Lemon praises Fareham spirit after comeback win

Fareham ground out a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Richmond in the final game of their South Clubs' Women's League division three B campaign on Saturday.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Mar 2016, 07:00 BST
Emily Masson. Picture: Mick YoungEmily Masson. Picture: Mick Young
Emily Masson. Picture: Mick Young

The win made it 10 league matches unbeaten for the Henry Cort outfit as they finished the season third in the table and condemned their London hosts to relegation by just a point.

Steve Lemon’s side travelled to the capital with a depleted side.

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But as they have shown all season, Fareham had the strength in character to come back from 3-1 down to register victory.

Fareham coach Lemon said: ‘It showed we have got character and we can grind out wins.

‘That’s 10 games without a defeat since Christmas, so I’m very pleased with the second half of the season.’

The visitors started well and took the lead after just two minutes thanks to a penalty corner strike by Emily Masson.

However, the hosts were level within 10 minutes.

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They then scored a second goal five minutes before the break to lead 2-1 at half-time before stretching their advantage six minutes after the restart.

This sparked a Fareham comeback.

Emma Jones fired the ball in to make it 3-2 six minutes later.

In the 55th minute, Vicky Field scored via a deflection from a penalty corner to make it 3-3.

Two minutes later Fareham completed a brilliant comeback when a great ball from outside the D found Field who deflected it in for her second of the match.

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Towards the end, Richmond were disallowed a goal, which would have kept them up on goal difference.

Goalkeeper Charlotte Gardiner saved two penalty strokes to send Fareham’s second string through to the semi-finals of the Hampshire Open Cup.

The clash with Hamble was goalless after full-time but Fareham triumphed 4-3 in penalty strokes.

They will play Haslemere II on April 17.

Meanwhile, Havant completed a miserable season with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Barnes in South Clubs’ Women’s League division one.

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They will be relegated to division two after winning just two points.

Havant IV won an 11-goal thriller 6-5 against Romsey III to all but secure their place in Hampshire League division five next season.

Megan Knaresborough and Aiden Davis both scored two, with further goals from Clare Hayward and Megan Taylor.

Related topics:FarehamLondon