Fareham Town have goalkeeper on the scoresheet for the second time this season as they put struggling Amesbury to the sword

The Reds' stopper was allowed to take a second half spot-kick which put Pete Stiles' side 5-0 up in their crushing 8-0 triumph.

Stiles explained how he does not like the same player taking more than one penalty during a game so, after Ben Rowthorn had made it 4-0 from the spot, McCarthy was placed on duty.

Incredibly, it's the second time this season Fareham have had a goalkeeper find the net.

Stopper Jon Webb netted the winning penalty in the Reds' FA Vase shoot-out victory over Jersey Bulls in October.

Stiles said: ‘It’s no secret Amesbury are struggling a bit, but take nothing away from my lads, they were really on it. I think that will have done us the world of good.

‘Admittedly, we had two penalties yesterday, but when they’re defending with six or seven defenders, a lot of the ball is going to be in and around the box so that’s the risk you take.

‘We felt we had a good shout for a penalty in the first half which wasn’t given but we did get two in the second half.

‘Ben Rowthorn scored the first penalty but I don’t like when someone has taken a penalty letting them take a second one.

‘My keeper, Dec McCarthy, was chomping at the bit to take one so we let him come up and take it, it’s always a bit risky.

‘I hope it didn’t seem arrogant doing that but he is a good striker of the ball, the keeper would never have got to it, it was a great penalty.’

The Amesbury thrashing was the third time this term Fareham have netted eight in a single game, following on from 8-0 victories over Hythe & Dibden and Harvest Home in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Defender Casey Bartlett-Scott, back at the club after a stint playing in America, got the first with a stunning volley then Jack Breed made it 2-0 before the break.

The floodgates opened for Fareham after the restart with Ethan Jones, Rowthorn, McCarthy - both penalties - and substitutes Gary Austin (two) and Josh Benfield all getting on the scoresheet.