27th March 2010
Whitchurch finish 4th
Whitchurch finished the season in fourth place in the EHL Conference West after losing their final league match 4-1 to Fareham. It was only the second home defeat of the campaign for Whitchurch, but they started the match brightly, Laith El Khatib going close from a pass by Mark Whatling in the first couple of minutes. It was the visitors, though, who opened the scoring, Ben Hibberd finishing a fast break-out from defence in the fifth minute. Whitchurch enjoyed good possession without creating clear chances, and it was the fast counter-attacking Fareham forwards who looked most dangerous. Shaun Baker added a second for Fareham after twelve minutes and although Whitchurch had a couple of chances to open their account Iwan Williams in the Whitchurch goal was the busiest of the keepers, making one particularly fine stop to prevent Fareham adding to their score before the interval. Whitchurch started the second period in positive fashion and almost pulled a goal back in the first couple of minutes, the Fareham goalkeeper making a fine reflex save from a goal bound shot from Jamie Westerman. Mark Whatling was on hand to clear off the line as Fareham counter-attacked and then eight minutes into the half Whitchurch got the goal their efforts deserved, Whatling, working hard in midfield, starting and finishing off a fine move from the Whitchurch attack which opened up the Fareham defence. Whitchurch strived hard for the equaliser, the Fareham keeper saving well from a penalty corner, but it was Fareham who scored next, James Seagar latching on to a loose ball in the circle to fire home Fareham’s third midway in the half and seven minutes later John Billington scored in similar fashion to make the final score 4-1 to Fareham.
