Nichols hits Fareham winner... Havant draw

They were missing five first-team players but came away with maximum points to establish a 10-point gap to fourth-placed Trojans.

Fareham went 1-0 down to the bottom club after 20 minutes but bounced back five minutes later with a close-range finish from Vicky Field.

However, they then trailed 2-1 going into the break.

Amanda Hilsdon netted a rebound from a penalty corner to make it 2-2 three minutes into the second period.

Hannah Nichols then rounded off the scoring shortly before the hour mark.

Nichols intercepted a pass in the D and fired home to make it 3-2.

Coach Steve Lemon admitted it wasn’t his side’s best performance but was delighted they could keep their excellent run going.

Fareham have now won seven games in a row since Christmas.

And Lemon has set his sights on a perfect 10 for the end of the season.

His side host Wanderers at Henry Cort next Saturday (1.15pm).

Elsewhere, Havant collected their second point of the season in the crucial relegation scrap at Staines in division one.

Mark Robinson’s side really needed to win all three points to close the six-point gap between themselves and Staines but came away with a 1-1 draw.

Havant were 1-0 down but equalised through Kim Tyrell with three minutes to go.

They were also awarded a penalty flick 10 minutes earlier, which Rae Allen scored from but it was surprisingly disallowed.

Suffice to say, Havant played in a very competitive and exciting match against a well drilled and determined Staines side.

Havant have three matches to play.

And they still have their destiny in their own hands.

They certainly have not given up hope of remaining in the division.

They host Oxford University at Havant College next Saturday (1.30pm).