Fareham Ladies edge seven-goal thriller as East Grinstead await

The victory maintained the Henry Cort side’s excellent form going into the winter break and leaves them fifth in South Clubs’ Women’s League division 3B.

Both teams started well, with several goalscoring opportunities created at both end, but it was Fareham who broke the deadlock first.

In the eighth minute the visitors caught Guildford on the break and Vicky Field finished with a superbly-taken one-handed reverse stick shot.

However, midway through the half the momentum swung back in the home side’s favour with two goals in quick succession.

Guildford got an equaliser in the 20th minute and then scored from a long ball outside the D which was tapped into the back board to make it 2-1 just two minutes later.

In a topsy-turvy half, Fareham quickly turned the game on its head with two goals of their own.

They were soon on the attack with a great run from Field, who passed it across goal to Emma Jones for the equaliser.

Fareham continued to come forward and finished it off with a second goal from Field in the 28th minute.

However, in a breathless first half, there was still time for Guildford to grab a third before half-time to make it 3-3.

In the early minutes of the second half, the home side had good chances to put themselves ahead but they were not taken.

The visitors took full advantage, and late in the game Fareham were awarded a penalty corner.

And they took their opportunity with a great routine, which was converted by Masson to put her side in front for the third time in the match.

The hosts did not give up, though, and piled on the pressure in the final five minutes.

Nevertheless, Fareham held onto their lead and took a deserved three points home in their opening match of 2016.

Fareham host top-of-the-table East Grinstead at Henry Cort next Saturday (11.45am push back).

Meanwhile, Fareham 2s edged past local rivals Havant 3s in Hampshire division two, and the third string lost 2-1 at Basingstoke 4s.