Sorry Fareham sunk by 11-goal blitz

​Fareham are virtually certain to be back playing Conference hockey again in the autumn after having their South Division 1 life cord effectively severed in an 11-goal mauling by champions-elect Oxted.
The double figure thrashing which coincided with second from bottom Brighton & Hove winning 2-1 at Havant means that, baring a miracle, Fareham will finish bottom.
But head coach Ben Barnes remains ever optimistic saying: “If we win our last two matches at Havant (Sunday, 2.30pm) and against Team Bath on March 22, and Teddington lose both of theirs (to Sevenoaks and Havant), we will avoid finishing last.”
But it’s a mighty tall order for a youthful Fareham side that has won only twice all season and arguably might be better off developing in either the Eastern of Western Conference next term.
Goalkeeper Rory Kemp [pictured] felt like a sitting duck in a fairground shooting gallery as Oxted ran in three goals in the first 17 minutes and were 5-0 up by half-time.
Sam Driver had a field day, scoring six of Oxted’s 11 goals as the table topping Surrey club moved to within one point of the championship.
Fareham’s second team, fighting relegation in the Hampshire/Surrey Regional League, were also thrashed, 5-0 at Reigate Priory.

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