Men's 1s put 5 past Fareham 2s

Reigate Priory chalked up their first win of the season against experienced campaigners Fareham 2s. Reigate fancied their chances having put in good performances over the last couple of weekends against Barnes and Havant, just failing to get across the line, with both games finishing in a 1-1 draw.

Reigate took an early lead through veteran forward Jonny Perkins beat the keeper at his near post; a composed, but cheeky finish. From there is was all Reigate for the next 10 minutes, and but for good keeping from the Fareham keeper, Reigate could have been 3 or 4 up. Not to worry, up steps Tom Pickersgill to calmly dispatch a monstrous short corner routine, to make it 2-0 to Reigate.

Fareham respond well to this, first with a smart reverse stick finish, then fortuitously from a short corner; a Henry Williams double save and then post not proving enough to keep the ball out the back of the net. 2-2 - potential for a wobble here? Fortunately not as Pickersgill steps up again to score in familiar fashion to make it 3-2 at half time.

More of the same in the second half. Another sublime finish from Perkins puts Reigate 4-2 up, before player-coach Simon Owen decides to get in on the action scoring a rare goal. Fareham refuse to give up, and it takes heroics of Matt "Pinhead" Alexander and Steve Beel on the line at short corners to keep the score down. Fareham finally hit back when a fortuitous bounce falls to Fareham CF who does what he's threatened all game, and smashes the ball in the roof of the net.

Reigate see out the remainder of the game in composed manner, with superior fitness showing through in the uncharacteristically hot late October sun. 5-3 final score.