Another hat-trick for Alpay Ali as goal-happy Fleetlands romp to magnificent seventh successive win

Alpay Ali has scored three hat-tricks in his last five Fleetlands first team games, after a double hat-trick in his last reserve outing.
Picture: Neil Marshall — Alpay Ali has scored three hat-tricks in his last five Fleetlands first team games, after a double hat-trick in his last reserve outing. Picture: Neil Marshall

A 5-0 home victory over Chamberlayne was the team’s fifth successive Hampshire Premier League success.

The run is seven wins in a row in all competitions with Fleetlands also through to the last eight of the Hampshire Trophy.

They have belted 40 goals in those seven games and only conceded seven - and four of those were netted by Bognor’s Ashton Leigh when he was ‘guesting’ for Paulsgrove the week before Christmas!

Playing their first home game at Lederle Lane since the end of November - three home fixtures had been held on 3G school pitches - an Ali double put Fleetlands in control at half-time.

Callum Theobald and Jake Alford were also on target in the second half as Ali completed his latest hat-trick.

Ex-Gosport Borough striker Ali had previously netted four in a Trophy win against Hamble United and three in a 10-2 HPL hammering of Liss. Prior to being called up to face Hamble, he had fired a double hat-trick in a reserve game against Liss!

Fleetlands’ latest comfortable victory was achieved without George Gregory and Callum Smith, while Jamie Wrapson is out injured and Brandon Rogers was unavailable.

A host of recent signings - including the players co-boss Dan Greenwood brought with him after leaving Hayling United - are cup tied for next Saturday’s Trophy trip to the Isle of Wight.

Fleetlands take on Brading - mid-table in the IoW Saturday League - for a place in the last four of the county tournament.

Brading knocked out Locks Heath in an earlier round, and Greenwood said: ‘We’re going there to win.

‘A cup run never does any harm, it would be great to reach the final.’

One player who is available to play for Fleetlands is centre half Toby Wilson, the club’s newest recruit.

Wilson has come over from Hayling but Greenwood said: ‘I didn’t chase him - Toby’s done the chasing. He approached me before Christmas saying he’d like to sign.’

Dan Clasby is the only other ex-Humbug available to face Brading.

Callum Dart, who set up two of the goals against Chamberlayne, is among those cup-tied.

Baffins boss Shaun Wilkinson has said he could recall Dart in a bid to help freshen up Rovers’ faltering Wessex title challenge.

‘We’ve given Callum the chance to get match fit,’ said Greenwood. ‘That was always the plan when I first spoke to Shaun.

‘I’d like to think we’d see him in a Fleetlands shirt again this season but that’s down to Shaun.’