Teens star as Fareham maintain 100 per cent start to new Western Conference hockey season

Alex Beckett, Phil Larcombe and Fergus Jackson secured Fareham’s third successive win in Devon.

That kept them top of the Western Conference log on goal difference from Bristol University and Harborne, who they visit on Sunday.

But Fareham had to play 20 minutes with ten men after former Team Bath Buccaneers defender Steve Daxter was twice sin-binned and two others picked up green cards.

Fareham manager Malc Davies explained: ‘The cards played a major tactical part, with the double yellow for Daxter preventing us from getting any authority and pushing us on to the back foot.’

Portsmouth Grammar School’s Alex Beckett continued his early-season goalscoring form by giving Fareham a sixth minute lead – his fifth goal in three starts.

But the visitors needed a series of fine saves from Rory Kemp – and some off-target Isca finishing - to keep their noses in front.

Daxter picked up his first yellow in the 20th minute and was briefly joined in the ‘bin’ by Dylan Coleman, leaving Fareham short of manpower leading up to half-time.

Larcombe redeemed himself from an early green card by doubling Fareham’s lead early in the third quarter, but they were down to ten men again when Daxter returned to the cooler, this time for a back-stick tackle.

Fareham needed that two-goal cushion when Isca’s Tom Brooks converted a penalty corner on the hour-mark, but with Daxter back and a full complement of players on the pitch they closed the game out.

Jackson settled affairs with a third goal from the top of the D after a penalty corner breakdown.

Kieran Page notched a hat-trick as Fareham 2nds caned Richmond II 8-3 to move off the South League Hampshire/Surrey Regional League basement.

Alex Ellison and Zac Way scored two each, with Paul Metcalf completing the rout.