Reply to THIS thread
Start a NEW Talkback Thread
Talkback Home

Harding hat-trick sets confident Liphook en route to victory - Henry Ascoli (10th Nov 2013 - 10:06:14) Hampshire Premier League Liphook United 6-0 Bournemouth Sports CONFIDENCE, composure and clinical finishing proved decisive as Liphook United produced an assured performance to triumph on home turf, writes Henry Ascoli. A hat-trick from on-form striker Steve Harding set the hosts en route to victory in this one-sided encounter, with flowing football in short supply on the sodden Recreation Ground surface. Despite a tentative start, United broke the deadlock on 10 minutes, when a bobbling effort from Harding rippled through the static defence and evaded keeper Kyle Roberjot, rolling over the line. Buoyed by this initial breakthrough, Liphook attacked with pace and purpose, and Adrian Moger came close to doubling their lead, his powerful left-footed effort flashing across the face of goal. Liphook dominated play in the centre of the field and pinned the visitors into their own box, and Rick Williams was allowed time and space to test Roberjot with a strong shot from 20 yards. Moments later at the other end, Jack Goodship cut inside and fired into the side netting to highlight the visitors’ potential threat on the break. United stretched their lead on the half-hour mark, when sluggish defending on the edge of the box allowed Harding to nip in and tuck the ball home from close range. Bournemouth fashioned their first real chance from another swift counter-attack, as a downward header from Alastair Buckle prompted a solid save from home keeper Chris Martin. Despite a bright start to the second half, the visitors lacked composure in the final third and failed to trouble the home defence, with only a long-range effort from Goodship to show from their strongest period of the match. An injection of energy from substitute Matt Connor just after the hour-mark rejuvenated the hosts, and he completed a brilliant team move by slotting the ball home from 15 yards to score with his first touch of the ball. Minutes later, a sweeping break through the midfield left the visitors’ defence in tatters, and Connor was on hand to rattle the ball into the back of the net and bag his brace. Liphook put their opponents to the sword during the closing stages, exploiting time and space to race down the channels, and Harding, Connor and Harry Tremlett proved a constant goalscoring threat. Ten minutes from time, Tremlett added his name to the scoresheet, turning the defence and racing into the box to dink the ball over Roberjot and into the bottom right corner. United completed a confident display with seven minutes remaining, when Harding robbed a defender 25 yards out and scuttled into the box, then produced a deft lob which sailed over Roberjot and into the back of the net. Liphook assistant manager Pete Oliver said: “This was a good disciplined performance and we showed a lot of quality in front of goal to take the three points. We now need to take that confidence into the trip to Otterbourne next week.”

Reply to THIS thread
Talkback Home