FAREHAM III 3, HASLEMERE II 2

HASLEMERE twos suffered a frustrating loss to lowly opposition in Hampshire 1.

However, it was a sign that things are moving in the right direction that Haslemere managed to keep 11 players on the pitch throughout.

The game started slowly, with average hockey from both sides. Fareham took the lead with a decent goal, but Haslemere raised their game and skipper Charlie Millsom equalised with a shot from a tight angle.

Fareham went ahead again before the interval and although Haslemere moved the ball around nicely on the restart, the home side added a third goal.

With the clock ticking down, Haslemere kept working and were rewarded when Matt Putman made an excellent run into the D and after a good first save from the keeper, converted the rebound.

However, the final whistle went minutes later and Haslemere were left to digest their fourth defeat in five matches. They need to improve for a tough home fixture against Salisbury this Saturday (3.30pm).

Haslemere: Cashman, Putman, Tite, Gee, Gloak, Dennis, Head, Hams, Bamber, Thomas, Millsom, Bowes, Easton, Appan.