Match report: Christchurch FC have now won six out of their last seven Wessex League Division One games with a 3-1 victory over Fareham Town FC
Christchurch kept up their remarkable form, dominating a Fareham Town side who entered the match as the league’s third-placed team on Saturday.
Christchurch have now won six of the last seven matches, with their sole defeat coming at the hands of runaway league leaders AFC Portchester.
The victory came after Joe Freak scored two penalties, sandwiching an effort from Louis Whetton and a man-of-the-match performance from keeper Ben Rodwell.
The two sides enjoyed an end-to-end contest in the early exchanges, with Christchurch’s perfect pitch allowing both sides to move the ball well.
With 27 minutes played, Christchurch worked themselves into a decent position before a sloppy challenge on Jack Dove left the referee pointing at the penalty spot. Freak took responsibility, firing home to make it 1-0.
Freak should have made it 2-0 after going through one-on-one, but keeper Declan McCarthy denied him well before Fareham missed a sitter.
Moments before the half ended, Sam Woodward had the chance to level from the penalty spot. However, Rodwell, in the Church’s goal, had other ideas. The keeper threw himself the right way, pushing the ball firmly away to keep his side in the lead.
The lead lasted six minutes into the second 45, with Charlie Cooper punishing a square ball in the Christchurch half before firing home.
Whetton restored the lead just after the hour mark before Church won another penalty with seven minutes left. Freak repeated the trick, winning the battle of wits and settling the contest.
The free-scoring victors have now scored 27 goals in their last seven games.
Christchurch hosts Bournemouth – who sit one place and one point behind the hosts – on Saturday at 3pm.
Christchurch: B. Rodwell, J. Dove, C. Hockton, R. Watkins, J. Fu, J. Hall, L. Sheehy, D. Neild, J. Freak, A. Chipangura, L. Whetton. Subs: T. Fu, A. Farmer, A. Younger, B. Manuel, W. Crutcher.
