Hampshire Premier League heavyweights Paulsgrove and Bush Hill set for titanic tussle

Paulsgrove boss Wayne Grant is hoping his side can underline their Hampshire Premier League title credentials in the club’s biggest game of the season so far.
Billy Butcher makes a tackle during last season's Paulsgrove v Bush Hill fixture which the visitors won 3-1 at Marsden Road. Picture: Keith WoodlandBilly Butcher makes a tackle during last season's Paulsgrove v Bush Hill fixture which the visitors won 3-1 at Marsden Road. Picture: Keith Woodland
Billy Butcher makes a tackle during last season's Paulsgrove v Bush Hill fixture which the visitors won 3-1 at Marsden Road. Picture: Keith Woodland

Unbeaten Grove entertain Senior Division leaders Bush Hill on Saturday in what promises to be an intriguing contest at Marsden Lane.

Grant's troops have won eight of nine league fixtures this term - drawing the other - to put themselves in a strong position as they sit fifth with at least three games in hand on the four sides above them.

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However, he is under no illusions of the challenge his side will face against the division’s leading scorers.

'It’s going to be a tough one, it always is against Bush Hill. They’re obviously the favourites to win the league and these are the games we all want to play in,' said Grant.

'Yeah, 100 per cent (the standout team in the division).

‘I’ve known Eugene (McManus; Bush manager) a few years now and he produces good teams all the time.

'They’re very similar to us, they have a real close-knit team, they’re local lads and they’re bonded like we are.

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‘Although they’re the wrong side of the river as we like to call it, you can’t help but respect what they do. They put teams to the sword.'

Plenty of attacking talent will be on show with four players sharing 58 goals already this season.

Bush talisman Mark Barker (22) and Callum Drake (10) are their side’s leading scorers, while Paulsgrove pair Zak Willett (14) and Danny Lane (12) have 26 goals between them,

Grant's side are the second highest scorers in the Senior Division with 44 - 16 fewer than Bush but with four games in hand.

Grant quipped: ‘It’s got 0-0 written all over it!

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'I’m sure there will be goals, don’t get me wrong, but whether it’ll be one of the high-scoring games they’ve had previous - we certainly hope not.

‘They’re probably under the same impression as us. They’re going to want to come to us and turn us over.

‘This is probably their biggest game of the season and it’s definitely ours. It’s going to be a bit of a chess match to start.'

Midfielder Jake Daniels should be available for Paulsgrove as they have yet to receive confirmation for the red card he received on debut at Chamberlayne last weekend.

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However, new signings Glyn Cooper (injured) and Jake Warlow (unavailable) will not be involved.

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Honours are even between Paulsgrove and Bush in recent seasons.

Both have won three and lost three of the last six HPL games they have played.

In 2017/18 Paulsgrove completed the double en route to winning the title.

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Lane netted in both games - a 3-0 home success and a 1-0 victory in Southampton.

They were the only two league defeats Bush suffered that season.

Bush won the title the following season, 2018/19, but were beaten 4-1 at Paulsgrove - Jimmy Hird netting a hat-trick.

Barker struck twice when his side won the return game 4-2.

Last season Barker grabbed two more braces as Bush completed the double - winning 3-1 at Marsden Road and 5-1 at home.