Fareham upset early-season form book to take ‘El Creekio’ derby honours with Wessex Premier win against AFC Portchester

Gary Austin, foreground, struck Fareham's derby winner against AFC Portchester at Cams Alders. Picture: Vernon Nash

It was a first win of the season for the Reds and ruined the Royals' 100 per cent start to the season.

The win was no more than Pete Stiles' side deserved as they were by far the better team on the night.

Stiles was delighted with the way his players responded to the challenge.

'We fully deserved our win and tonight I felt we showed that we are a good side,' he declared.

'We had a game plan and stuck to it and wanted it more on the night.

'In the first half we sat back a bit but looked to take any opportunities that came along and we did.

'We could have scored a few more.

'I felt that we out-fought them, out-battled them and out-played them.

'Now we have to got to do that every week.'

The home side were unlucky not to go in front after 17 minutes when a Curt Robbins header from a corner crashed back off the upright.

Fareham broke the deadlock in the 36th minute with their first goal of the season.

Royals goalkeeper Brad Snelling, under pressure, failed to hold a corner and Archie Wilcox prodded the loose ball into the net.

It was no more than the home side deserved

The lacklustre visitors needed a bit of magic from somewhere and it came five minutes before half-time when Steve Ramsey crashed home an unstoppable 30-yard free kick to level.

The dwinner arrived on 61 minutes when a Robbins header put Gary Austin in.

He outpaced a defender before firing a low drive into the bottom far corner of the net.

Soon afterwards Charlie Cooper curled a delightful shot against the foot of the Royals’ post.

The home back four, superbly marshalled by Garry Moody, made sure the lead stayed intact.

Royals manager Mick Catlin felt his side could have no complaints about the result.

'Fareham were hungrier than us and deserved their win,' he said.

'I was particularly disappointed with our second half performance.

'They were a lot quicker to the ball than us and we didn't pass it well enough.

'We lacked ideas and just resorted to pumping the ball long.

'It was a below par performance from us and you can't afford it in this league.'

Fareham: Kempson; Jones (Benfield C, 89), Tattersall, Settle, Wilcox, Moody, Cooper, Davis, Robbins, Austin (Benfield J, 67), Breed (Bartlett-Scott, 65).

AFC Portchester: Snelling; Hibberd, Cripps, Castle, Dempsey, Chamberlain (Greaves, 75), Evans, Ramsey, Harding, Wort, Johnson (Molyneaux 62).