In-form Humbugs ‘won’t hold back’ as they look to shatter Infinity’s unbeaten Hampshire Premier League run

Hayling United boss Dan Bishop wants his in-form side to play with ‘freedom’ as they bid to end Infinity’s unbeaten Hampshire Premier League run on Tuesday night.
Hayling's George Rough, right, scored in his side's seventh straight HPL win against Clanfield. Picture: Vernon NashHayling's George Rough, right, scored in his side's seventh straight HPL win against Clanfield. Picture: Vernon Nash
Hayling's George Rough, right, scored in his side's seventh straight HPL win against Clanfield. Picture: Vernon Nash

The Humbugs made it seven successive Senior Division victories with a 4-2 home success over Clanfield under floodlights at Front Lawn.

Danny Thompson's table-topping Infinity are aiming to become the first team in HPL top flight history to go the entire season undefeated.

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But Hayling could provide them with one of their toughest tests of the season.

‘I’m really looking forward to the game,' said Bishop.

‘There is no doubting Infinity are a good side.

‘We’ve got a very difficult job on our hands. They score goals for fun and keep lots of clean sheets.

‘They’re top for a reason, they’re a good side.

‘We know what they’re all about, but that doesn’t make things any easier.

‘It’s still going to be difficult to get a result.

‘We’ll play with freedom, I’m not going to hold back.

‘There’s only one way that we can play.

‘Whatever happens, I genuinely don’t care what the result is - as long as we go out, apply ourselves and work as hard as we have in the other games.'

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Hayling needed a late double from Dan Goodsell to see off Clanfield.

He made it 3-2 on 86 minutes before converting a penalty - his 10th goal of the season - to round off the win a minute later.

The Humbugs had raced into a two-goal lead inside 11 minutes through Alex Jarrom and George Rough.

Infinity also head into an intriguing battle on the back of a win.

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Wayne Boud's double and Jamie White's 41st league and cup goal of the season saw them run out 3-0 winners at Lyndhurst.

It was just the response Thompson had demanded after a 0-0 draw at Paulsgrove in their previous outing.

However, the Infinity boss is well aware his team will have to be just as good to take maximum points at Hayling.

‘They’re one of the in-form teams at the minute,'

‘It’s not going to be an easy game.

‘I’ve watched them a couple of times. They’re a young, fit and energetic side.

‘We need to make sure we’re fully focused.

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'But from our point of view, we’re back to how we were a month ago on the back of the win over Lyndhurst.

‘We’ll be going into it full of confidence.'

Infinity will stretch their lead over main title rivals Bush Hill to 19 points with victory over Hayling.

The defending champions, though, will have six games in hand and still have to face Infinity.

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Ex-Fleetlands man Nathan Gray starred at the weekend as Bush Hill kept the pressure on Infinity with a 6-1 drubbing of Chamberlayne.

Gray followed up his brace in the 5-1 win over Paulsgrove a fortnight earlier with a four-goal haul against the top flight’s cellar dwellers.

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