Fareham miss chance to go joint-top of Wessex Premier as they are held at home by Fleet Town

Fareham Town missed the chance to join Hamworthy United at the top of the Wessex League Premier Division tab;e.
Fareham skipper Tom Settle netted his side's penalty leveller against Fleet. Pic: Keith Woodland.Fareham skipper Tom Settle netted his side's penalty leveller against Fleet. Pic: Keith Woodland.
Fareham skipper Tom Settle netted his side's penalty leveller against Fleet. Pic: Keith Woodland.

The Reds would have moved level on points with the Hammers had they defeated Fleet Town at a freezing cold Cams Alders.

But in an entertaining game that was a credit to step five football, they had to be content with a 1-1 draw.

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With Lymington maintaining their 100 per cent record, Fareham dropped a place to fourth - albeit just two points adrift of Hamworthy and a point behind second-placed Lymo and third-placed Horndean in a tightly-congested leading pack.

Skipper Tom Settle’s penalty, awarded for a foul on Josh Benfield, cancelled out Matt Pearce’s opener - and spared Fareham keeper Lewis Watch’s blushes.

Watch had gifted Fleet a 12th minute lead when he failed to clear a back pass and was caught in possession, Pearce gleefully taking advantage.

But Watch redeemed himself just before the interval, after Settle had equalised, with a stunning save from Jack Howard.

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It seemed Howard had to score from Leo Decarbo’s low cross, yet Watch flung himself to his left to beat out a shot from just eight yards out.

It was easily one of the best saves you will see at Wessex level this season.

Reds boss Pete Stiles had said he would make changes to the that returned from lockdown with a 4-1 home FA Vase win over Roman Glass St George.

He was true to his word, with Watch handed his second start of 2020/21 and his first in the league, with striker Simon Woods also given his first start of the campaign.

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Ethan Jones - taking his place as one of three centre halves in a 3-5-2 formation - and Charlie Cooper were also recalled to the starting XI.

Fareham entered the game having belted 27 goals in their last six league and cup outings at Cams Alders.

And it was easy to see why the Reds have started the season so well, as they produced some attractive football throughout.

They looked to use width at all times - wing-backs Ash Tattersall and Cooper were prominent throughout - and on another night could easily have banked all three points.

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But in fairness, Fleet - though less of an attacking threat - caused their fair share of problems.

It was Fareham, however, who carved out the best chances in both halves. Based on possession and number of chances, they will feel they should have won.

In the first 45 minutes Woods twice skipped past two challenges, the first occasion shooting at keeper Ryan Bone and the second - when it looked as if he would shoot - rolling a pass to Cooper whose shot was blocked at close range.

Fleet began the second half in threatening mood, Pearce having a goal ruled out for offside and Decarbo shooting at Watch when he should really have done better.

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Stiles hauled off his front two of Josh Benfield and Woods on 54 minutes, introducing Calum Benfield - the club’s top scorer this season - and Luke Slade.

The pair almost had an immediate impact, linking up with Benfield’s shot blocked for a corner.

Ronan Galloway, unmarked, headed the resultant flag-kick over with Benfield doing likewise from a Cooper cross shortly after.

Fleet sub Yasser Arafat shot wide in a rare Fleet attack as Fareham piled the pressure on in the last 20 minutes.

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Slade constantly found space on the left side, but was unable to seriously test Bone.

Benfield got up for a far post header back across goal that drifted just over the bar, before the same player was unable to connect with a cross with Bone out of position.

As the game entered time added on, Tattersall - increasingly a threat on the left side - cut inside but his shot lacked power and Bone easily collected.

The hosts would have been disappointed to have failed to win for the second home league game running - Alresford held them 3-3 on their last Wessex outing 35 days earlier.

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But Fleet are certainly no mugs - they would be sixth had they won - and will feel they fully deserved the point they took back to north Hampshire.

Fareham: Watch, Cooper, Tattersall, Galloway, Wilcox, Jones, Settle, Breed, J Benfield (C Benfield), Robbins, Woods (Slade).

Fleet: Bone, Framp, Wensley, Babikir, Derry, Dansie (Akmet), Sharratt (Nash), Howard, Pearce, Decarbo, Karumazondo (Arafat).

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