City hit six... Clay nets to cement point

City quickly built a two-goal lead.

Cheshire fired home from a short-corner routine and Sam Murray doubled the lead with a diving reverse shot.

Fareham hit back with two goals to level before half-time.

But Jamie Moore swept home to put Fareham 3-2 up in the second period.

Martin made it four with an unstoppable shot.

He also got the fifth before Fareham netted their third and Cheshire then completed the scoring.

City of Portsmouth Ladies had to settle for a 1-1 draw away to Isle of Wight in Hampshire Women’s League division two.

The island side struck first after a break away as they passed the ball into the goal, capitalising on some sloppy defending.

City finally hit back just before half-time when Becky Clay managed to find the back of the net.

The second half saw end-to-end play and penalty corners awarded to both sides but none prevailed.

Player of the match was awarded to Sarah Bamford for some well-worked defending.

The game ended 1-1 and City captain Katie Spooner said: ‘We were slightly disheartened because we know we were the better team.

‘But we are still second in the league and have our game in hand to play next.’

City ladies’ second team lost 8-1 at home to University of Portsmouth in division five.

For a tantalising period of five minutes City were level with them, following Michelle Hughes’ excellent goal.

However, the university were dominant as they turned on the style.

There were a lot of positives for City, though.

Their marking and pressing has greatly improved since the start of the season and they fought with tenacity against a very strong side, often frustrating the opposition.

Player of the match went to Lucy Smith for strong marking and for some cracking tackles.

City of Portsmouth men’s seconds lost 4-1 to Winchester IV in division three of the Hampshire League.

It wasn’t a good day for City thirds either as they lost 8-1 at home to Haslemere IV in division six.

Andreas Leonidou got the City consolation.

The fourth team, known as the City stars, lost 2-0 to United Services seconds in division 10.

Paul Barnes, COP Stars captain, said: ‘I was pleased to see that we gave USP a real run for their money and we were good challengers.

‘We now have a short Christmas break and we are pleased to be in 4th position in the league at this point.

‘In the Summer when we started Stars the Junior club and Senior club idea was to give our younger players the chance to be well trained, develop their skills correctly within Senior Hockey and play at the correct league starter level all within a safe environment.

‘We have achieved that objective. I’d like to thank all the players who have trained hard and behaved impeccably at training and at every match this season so far. I’d like to thank all the parents who have supported us before the match, on the sidelines and afterwards in the clubhouse.’

In 2017 the Stars are back in action on January 7 when a side of developing players from Alton are the challengers at Furze Lane.

On that day the Senior Stars players will step aside to allow more pitch time for the youngsters and another week for the older Stars players to recover from their aches and injuries sustained in the first half of the season.