Fareham can relax over the upcoming two-month winter break after a 4-2 win at Cardiff & Met hauled them out of the Western Conference danger zone.  ​
They had drawn their previous two matches against Isca 3-3 and cellar dwellers Cardiff University 2-2, but made no mistake with Joe Caine, Kieran Page, Jack Simmons and George Davey on target in the Principality.  Fareham host Teddington in the cup on December 10 before resuming their league programme against Plymouth Marjon at Henry Cort on February 4 2023.

​​Fareham Ladies have opened up a five-point lead at the top of the South West Women’s Premier Division after inflicting second placed Bournemouth’s second consecutive 1-0 defeat.
It was Fareham’s seventh straight victory ahead of a potentially testing Saturday lunchtime showdown against third-in-the-log Henley at Henry Cort, 1.15pm.
Some quick thinking and clever play at a penalty corner on the half-hour was enough to break the deadlock and settle the outcome of a tightly contested affair alongside Bournemouth international airport.
Bournemouth appeared to be expecting a repeat of Fareham’s previous corners as a result they over-compensated and committed too many players to one side. 
This time the injection found Sarah Johns in acres of space and with enough time for the ex-Winchester goal ace to drill a low shot through the gap between the keeper and an otherwise unprotected post for Fareham's winner.  
A jubilant Fareham coach Steve Lemon said: “To some extent the two sides cancelled each other out and there were relatively few scoring opportunities. 
“Consequently, we had to work very hard, dig deep and grind out a victory. We had the better chances on the day and another goal would have made life more comfortable, but we had to hold our nerve to repel  late Bournemouth pressure.”

A sixth successive win - a 3-0 victory over Sonning - has swept Fareham ladies to the top of the South Central Women's Premier Division ahead of Saturday's crunch visit to deposed leaders Bournemouth.
The Lionesses originally led the field with five straight wins of their own but have stuttered in the past fortnight, being held 2-2 by Amersham & Chalfont and then losing their unbeaten tag to Henley.
Now the top two meet at Chapel Gate on Saturday, 11.45.
Fareham took charge against Sonning with a fourth goal of the season by Gracie Coleman PICTURED and doubled their lead midway through the first half when Alicia Caillard finished a move she initially set up.
Caillard initiated Fareham’s third goal 15 minutes into second half, combining with Sian Edwards to set up Sarah Johns to complete the scoring with a shot inside the far post. 

Relegation threatened Fareham chase valuable points in their quest for Western Conference survival with consecutive trips into the Principality to face struggling Welsh opposition.
Buoyed by an encouraging 3-3 draw with high riding Isca, Fareham visit rock bottom Cardiff University on Saturday and on November 26 cross he Severn Bridge again, this time to play Cardiff & Met.
A weakened Fareham twice had their noses in front against Isca at Henry Cort, where Jack Simmons wiped out the Devonian lead with a reverse stick shot into the top corner.
Teenager Finn Coleman celebrated his maiden England Hockey goal to give Fareham a 2-1 lead, which Isca cancelled out before half-time.
Fareham bounced back in the 45th minute with Joe Jenkinson on target, but Isca piled on the pressure to equalize again and have their hosts clinging on for a 3-3 draw at the end.
Cardiff & Met picked up an unexpected point from a goal-less draw at joint leaders Chichester and would have won had they not blasted a late stoppage time penalty stroke over Chris Bristow’s crossbar.
The draw cost Chichester top place to Havant, who nicked a late 1-0 win over Clifton Robinsons in Bristol, courtesy of a late penalty stroke by Maciej Janiszewski, awarded for a foul on Matti Thomas.

Played five, won five. Fareham ladies promising start in the South Central Women’s League continued with a 4-1 beating of Trojans at Stoneham Lane and now only a point separates them from unbeaten leaders Bournemouth, who were held 2-2 by Amersham & Chalfont.
Having not played for three weeks, Fareham were understandably rusty, but they did take a short-lived lead through Alicia Caillard, one cancelled out by Trojans’ Sam Strange, the first girls to breach Fareham’s defences in five hours of hockey.  
Four minutes before half-time the visitors regained the lead, Hannah Ward setting up and finishing a move that involved Sarah Johns and Caillard.
A long awaited third Fareham goal came in the 52nd minute.  Some good approach play by Gracie Coleman was followed by a precise pass by Kiera Denham to Poppy Roddis, who cleverly lost her marker, turned and rounded the keeper before the coolest of finishes.  
That third goal eased any tension there might have been and it was no surprise that a fourth followed six minutes later. A positive run by Lucie Bishop ended with her slipping the ball left to Sarah Johns, who volleyed into the top corner to make it 4-1. 
Coach Steve Lemon remarked: “The margin was comfortable and could have been much bigger. 
“However, it was also a slightly stuffy performance following two blank weeks and it was probably the sort of game we needed to keep our feet on the ground and remind us that wins don't come easily, regardless of the opposition, and everything has to be earned. “
Bournemouth await Fareham next Saturday. 

Chichester are in nosebleed territory and top of England Hockey’s Western Conference after coming from behind to beat Fareham 4-2, two of their goals coming in the final quarter.
It was Chichester’s third successive win and with eight matches played, they lead Havant by one point at the top.   Havant beat overnight leaders Isca 4-1 in Exeter. 
Yet things did not begin well for Chichester with George Davey firing Fareham ahead inside the first minute and Dylan Coleman clipping the crossbar during a frenzied period of visiting pressure.
Chichester gradually got a foothold in the game with the tall and influential Josh Brown equalizing before Joe Bugden made it 2-1 with a spectacular overhead stick shot.
Chichester’s lead didn’t last long with Fergus Jackson equalizing for Fareham from a penalty stroke awarded after a goal-bound shot struck a foot on the line.
But Chichester weren’t to be denied.  As the rain lashed down on the climax of a fast and entertaining derby. Brown converted a penalty corner to make it 3-2 before a mistake at the back allowed Oli Baxter to grabb a fourth.