Whitchurch Utd 3 Hamworthy Utd 2.

Hamworthy, still reeling from the shock of losing manager Graham Kemp on Thursday, found little comfort at Longmeadow on Saturday as Whitchurch continued their impressive start to the season with victory by the odd goal in five writes John Gorman.

Whitchurch, still without the injured Tom Lockyer and with new signing Cole Hinchcliffe on the bench, fielded the same side that won at Almondsbury seven days earlier and were much the quicker to get into their stride. Their early pressure was rewarded in the fifth minute when Adam Pearson, always a threat at set pieces, turned a Jack McCarthy free-kick past keeper Daniel Ackerman. Danny Phillips, as ever a source of danger with his control and footwork, combined neatly with McCarthy but his volley was too high before Hamworthy’s first attack of note was halted by a well timed challenge by Pearson on Dominic Allen. Ackerman saved well from Garner before the home side doubled their lead midway through the half. Phillips found the space for a shot which Ackerman could not hold and the striker was quickest to react, turning the loose ball into the net. Whitchurch were in control with the overworked Ackerman saving from Garner and Josh Harfield and seeing a McCarthy shot whistle inches over the crossbar after more good work from Garner but manager Carl Bennett was forced to rewrite his half-time team talk when the visitors were awarded a penalty for handball which was converted by the experienced Allen to reduce the deficit.

Hamworthy showed more urgency at the start of the second half but shot themselves in the foot ten minutes in when Ackerman fumbled a routine Harfield cross over the line to restore Whitchurch’s two goal advantage. Ryan Lambert gave way to Tim Brasseur before it was the home side’s turn to inflict damage on themselves with Jamie Mansell making a forward’s tackle in his own area allowing Allen to convert his second penalty of the afternoon. Whitchurch pressed forward again with Phillips, McCarthy and Harfield prominent before Hassell was replaced by Ben Thomson who used his experience to slow the game down and help shepherd Whitchurch to a win that was perhaps more convincing than the scoreline suggests .

Bennett will be happy with the result which takes the points tally to 17 and leaves them fifth in the table just two points behind the leaders, but he will know they will play better and lose before the season is out.