No dream outcome for Clanfield’s ex-Moneyfields regulars as Hampshire Premier League leaders impress at Westleigh Park

There were six ex-Moneys reserves regulars in the home line-up at Westleigh Park against their former club at the weekend.

Skipper Jake Knight and Micky Viggor were in midfield, Brandon Elliott at the back and Dan Penfold, Fred Penfold and Olly Long in attacking roles.

Four of those six had helped Moneys beat Clanfield 5-1 in a Dover Road downpour in early October.

The following month, they were part of a huge exodus in the wake up Moneys first team boss Glenn Turnbull deciding to give first teamers a reserve run-out against Fleetlands.

They have certainly made an impact at Clanfield. In the drop zone when they arrived, five wins in six games had moved Lee Blakely’s men up into mid-table. And they only lost to Locks Heath with the last kick of the game.

On paper, therefore, this looked a tough game for leaders Moneyfields, even without factoring any extra spice into the mix. In reality, on Hawks’ 3G surface, the visitors were very comfortable in winning 4-2.

Yes, it would have been 1-1 had Long converted a 25th minute penalty. But Moneys should have been 2-0 up by that stage anyway and the table-toppers’ greater quality was evident for most of the afternoon. Clanfield’s two consolations, after all, came after they trailed 4-0.

Left wing-back Luke Richards opened the scoring on 14 minutes. Striker Finn Gibbs found him in space on the edge of the 18-yard box and Richards - recruited from US Portsmouth following the November exodus - curled a lovely low shot past Ash Wright and into the bottom corner.

Gibbs, who plays Sunday League football for Cobden, should have extended that lead six minutes later. Put through by Mig Dark, he easily rounded Wright but chose to shoot with his weaker foot and his effort, which lacked power, was cleared off the line.

Clanfield were given a route back into the game when Moneys keeper Sam Richards fouled Dan Penfold just inside the area - picking up one of the game’s seven bookings from referee Harry Waldron.

Long has been a regular scorer for Clanfield since leaving Moneys, but this time lifted his spot-kick well over the bar. It would be a costly miss.

The visitors doubled their lead on 34 minutes with another quality finish. From a very similar position where Richards had scored, midfielder Mackenzie Toms - on a dual registration from Aldershot Under-23s - curled a delightful shot over Wright and into the top corner.

Man of the match George Way put Toms clean through on 56 minutes, but a weak attempt at a lob was easily saved by Wright.

Clanfield had enough possession, but struggled to create good openings. From one of their best, Dan Penfold took a pass from brother Fred before firing in a low shot which Sam Richards beat away.

It was 3-0 on 64 minutes when Dark found space in the Clanfield area to slide a low shot past Wright for his 10th HPL goal in as many league starts this season.

Two minutes later it was 4-0 when right wing-back Jack Chandler dispossessed a defender before running on to score his first Moneys goal since leaving US Portsmouth last month.

Dan Penfold reduced the arrears on 73 minutes with his seventh goal in as many starts for Clanfield, a low shot across Richards.

Morgan Moret was inches away from making it 5-1, stretching to get on the end of a cross from fellow sub Taylor Keans at the far post.

It was a Clanfield sub, Adam Smalley, who had the final say with his side’s second consolation in stoppage time.

Clanfield: Wright, Crowe, Locke, Willmore, Elliott, Mulligan, Viggor, Knight, F Penfold, Long, D Penfold. Subs used: Barker, Smalley, Cripps, Bartlett.

Moneyfields: S Richards, Chandler, L Richards, Dowell, Hopkins, Kyle, Way, Boyd-Kerr, Toms, Gibbs, Dark. Subs used: Toman, Moret, Keans, Sillence.