New Harvest Home boss Harris salutes ‘perfect’ start with club record Hampshire Premier League win

Steve Harris toasted a ‘perfect’ performance in his first game as manager of Harvest Home.
Elliot Spencer, right, in action for Hayling United last season.  Picture: Keith WoodlandElliot Spencer, right, in action for Hayling United last season.  Picture: Keith Woodland
Elliot Spencer, right, in action for Hayling United last season. Picture: Keith Woodland

He watched on with delight as Harvest belted six second-half goals en route to the biggest win of their embryonic Hampshire Premier League life.

Harry Byrne and sub Luke Musselwhite both netted twice as Harvest leapt into third place in Division 1 with an 8-1 romp against Silchester at Front Lawn.

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Their north Hampshire visitors had started the day in fourth place, and had only lost 1-0 to Paulsgrove in an HPL Cup tie.

But Harvest - with former Hayling United skipper Elliott Spencer making his debut at right-back - stormed to their fifth win in six league games.

Nathan Newer, Charlie Deluchi, sub Jay Kane - the former Liss winger who was also making his debut - and an own goal completed the rout.

‘It wasn’t a bad start, was it?’ he quipped.

‘It couldn’t have gone any better to be honest.

‘We out-worked them, we basically just ground them down.

‘Yes, they crumbled (in the second half) but we forced that crumble because we were so intense.’

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Harris didn’t know Spencer but was recommended him by one of the Harvest players.

‘At the first training session I could see his character, attitude and work ethic,’ said the boss.

‘You don’t captain a club like Hayling United if you haven’t got anything about you.

‘I don’t just want to sign anyone, I want to sign players with the right character who will buy into what we are trying to achieve.’

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Kane, Michael Granger and Craig Ralph are unavailable for this weekend’s trip to third-bottom Headley.

‘This is a more important game than last week,’ said Harris. ‘We can’t go winning 8-1 and then losing this one.

‘The players set a good template last week.’

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