Clean sheet and three points for Jamboys (From Basingstoke Gazette)

First half treble enough for 'tired' Whitchurch

8:30pm Sunday 10th March 2013 in Andover By Sports editor Kerry Miller

Whitchurch United 3

Hythe and Dibden 0.

With Cowes Sports and Brockenhurst both inactive Whitchurch United and Team Solent both took advantage to close the gap at the top of Division One of the Wessex League on Saturday.

While the students were busy beating US Portsmouth 6-1 at Test Park the Jamboys completed another good week with a straight forward victory over basement side Hythe and Dibden.

Despite the victory manager Jim Macey admitted his side looked ‘tired and not up for it’ as their backlog of fixtures in cup and league begun to take effect.

Having edged past Fleet Town in their epic North Hants Senior Cup tie on Tuesday it was possibly just as well that the opposition were bottom side Hythe and Dibden although by half-time United were 3-0 up.

“I had a few fresh legs in the side as Adam Everiss and Chris Smalley were back but it was not great and the second half was an anti climax” he added. “We wanted to put on a good show in front of the league chairman but it was a bit flat.”

Expectations of a goal rush were high and once Nick Jupp hit a peach of a curler into the top corner and Adam Pearson had made it 2-0 after Smalley’s header was half cleared that seemed to be on the cards. Paul Coventry’s right foot volley made it 3-0 before the break but Whitchurch ran out of gas in the second half. “Sam Argent and Ashley Childs had chances but at least it was another clean sheet and we can take that into the Tadley game” said Macey.

United go to Barlows Park on Friday night for a derby with Tadley Celleva which both clubs are hoping will attract a good crowd and with the sides knowing each other well a battle royal is expected.

Macey added:” Luckily we have no game until Friday and I have given the players the week off and hopefully the rest will help them get over the injury niggles.”