Fleetlands goalkeeper Shortt scores in Hampshire Premier League romp at Winchester Castle

Goalkeeper Matt Shortt (orange) was among the scorers as Fleetlands romped to a 7-0 Hampshire Premier League win at Winchester Castle.

Shortt’s long kick - boosted by a swirling wind - slipped through his opposite number’s hands during the second half of the Coptermen’s 7-0 victory.

Fleetlands netted six times after the break as their new-look squad moved into sixth spot with games in hand on most of the teams above them.

It was the first time the club had scored seven times in a HPL game since beating Castle 7-2 in October 2016 helped by a Jordan Whiteley hat-trick.

It was also Fleetlands’ first 7-0 league win since beating Clanfield in August 2010, when Barry Snelling fired a hat-trick.

But the club’s record HPL win remains their 8-0 hammering of Team Solent in December 2007, the league’s first season.

Recent signing Bryn McKie netted the only goal of the first half at Castle before Tommy Woodward and Steve Duffin extended the lead before the hour mark.

Matt Andrews celebrated his return to the club by making it 4-0, within five minutes of coming on, before Shortt, Phil Archbold and Perry Easton completed the rout.

It was Archbold’s first goal since recently joining from US Portsmouth while Fleetlands boss Rich Bessey was also able to bring on another new face, ex-Moneyfields defender Sean Wain.

Andrews, who netted 25 times for Fleetlands in 2019/20, has returned to the club after short spells with Baffins in pre-season and Petersfield.

Wain, who along with Shortt helped Petersfield win the Wessex League title in 2014/15, had started the season at Bemerton Heath.

Another new recruit, ex-Liss defender Jamie Winter, was not available at the weekend.

Fleetlands need to embark on a winning run to put pressure on Infinity, Bush Hill and Paulsgrove above them.

‘It’s in our hands,’ said Bessey.

‘Paulsgrove haven’t played anyone really big yet.

‘They’ve got Infinity and Bush coming up and if they get six points there then you have to say fair play, they’ll have a good season.

‘But we’ve got to play them twice, we should have beaten Bush Hill away, and if we win our games in hand we’re a point above Infinity.’

While welcoming a handful of new signings, Fleetlands have seen defender Jake Warlow, who had been appointed vice-captain, return to Paulsgrove.