Settle’s spot on and Breed hits stoppage-time winner as Fareham move into Wessex League top eight

Fareham Town rode their luck before a stoppage-time goal earned them a 3-2 Wessex Premier win against struggling Cowes Sports at Cams Alders.
Jack Breed is congratulated after scoring a late winner for Fareham against Cowes. Picture by Paul Proctor.Jack Breed is congratulated after scoring a late winner for Fareham against Cowes. Picture by Paul Proctor.
Jack Breed is congratulated after scoring a late winner for Fareham against Cowes. Picture by Paul Proctor.

The third successive league success enabled the Reds to climb into the top eight - and they can go even higher in the next few days.

Reds manager Pete Stiles admitted it was an unconvincing victory.

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'It was a funny game and we were nowhere near at our best,' he remarked.

'The game was very much a stop-start affair and never really got going.

' At times we didn't defend very well, but the main thing is that we came away with the three points.

'Though we didn't get the winning goal until right at the death, few could deny that we didn't deserve it.

'It wasn't one of our better performances.'

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The Yachtsmen, with a strong wind behind them, took a sixth minute lead and that was the score at half-time.

The Reds equalised ten minutes into the second half from the penalty spot.

Charlie Cooper broke free down the right and crossed to Josh Benfield who was felled inside the area.

Though the goalkeeper got a hand to Tom Settle's spot-kick, he couldn't keep it out.

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Within five minutes Fareham were in front thanks to a second penalty.

Benfield again was the victim of a clumsy challenge and Settle tucked his penalty into the bottom corner.

Cowes equalised soon after and were incensed when they had another effort disallowed for offside.

In stoppage-time Fareham forced a series of corners and, with virtually the last kick of the game, Jack Breed lashed the loose ball into the net.

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'We have got some tough games coming up and will have to do better,' said Stiles.

'I am just happy to come away with the three points and hope we can play better football in our next game.'

Fareham travel to Tim Sills’ Hamworthy United on their 3G pitch on Tuesday night.

They have the incentive of knowing another three points will lift them into the top six for the first time this season.

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