Christmas treat as Guthrie inspires Moneys again

The home side led through a James Guthrie goal at half-time.

And they went on to make their superiority count after the break.

A second Guthrie goal and efforts from Lewis Fennemore, Shawn Benjamin, Nathan Paxton and Steve Hutchings completed the rout.

‘It was a very good way to wrap things up before Christmas,’ said Moneyfields manager Dave Carter.

‘We were big and strong in a deserved win.

‘James Guthrie has been brilliant for us since joining from Verwood.

‘He is only 18 but our gamble on bringing him to the club is paying off big time.

‘That is eight goals in nine games for him.

‘There are good players out there.

‘It is often a case of getting off your backside and going out to look for them.’

Second-placed AFC Portchester kept up the pressure with a deserved 2-0 win over relegation-battling Cowes Sports at the Blanchard Wells Stadium.

Second-half goals from Andy Todd and Joe Bye extended the Royals’ unbeaten run in the league to 17 games.

‘Cowes sat deep and made it difficult for us to break them down,’ said Portchester manager Graham Rix.

‘It was a question of remaining patient and not allowing ourselves to become frustrated.

‘We knew that we were creating plenty of opportunities.

‘In these sorts of situations you must keep calm and maintain the concentration.

‘We did that and eventually the goals came.’

The breakthrough arrived early in the second half after good work from George Wells ended with Todd rolling the ball into an empty Cowes Sports net.

Bye sealed the win 15 minutes before the full-time whistle with a fantastic 25-yard volley.

‘We are still a long way behind Moneyfields and have to just keep doing what we have been doing,’ added Rix.

‘Our next game is against the league leaders at the start of the new year.’

Relegation-threatened Fareham Town battled to a point in a 0-0 draw against Lymington Town at Cams Alders.

Gosport Borough lost 2-0 at Ebbsfleet in National League South.