Gilbert goals give Fareham six appeal

Jamie Rawlings prepares to unleash a penalty corner drag flick against the Isca crossbar ... Jack Gibert scores from the rebound [Steve Godwin Images]

Fareham are off the mark with a six !
They broke their National League Western Conference win duck with a resounding 6-1 win over Isca, New Zealander Jack Gilbert scoring four of the goals.
It was all done and dusted before half-time, with the Kiwi’s clinical ‘old school’ finishing sentencing the Devon visitors to a fifth successive defeat.
Fareham hit the ground running with a ‘route one’ goal in the eighth minute – the returning Jamie Rawlings hoisting a huge aerial pass into Isca territory and Gilbert finishing the move.
Three more goals in a sparkling ten minute spell effectively ended the duel between the Western Conference bottom two.
Gilbert doubled the scoring from a Chris Davey free-hit, Niall Stott rifled home a penalty corner and Rawlings sent home a trademark drag flick to make it 4-0 at the break.
“In the 15 minutes leading up to half-time we were particularly good, but we ought to have put more of our chances away,” head coach Ben Barnes reflected.
“Having Jamie back (after a brief spell at Reading) made a huge difference.  He formed a good partnership with Guy Bristowe.
“We worked hard at training for our back four to become a springboard for our attack. They gave us a good foundation from which to play.”
Fareham’s fifth early in the second half came from Gilbert after Rawlings had crashed a drag flick against the crossbar.
Isca enjoyed their best period after that, Will Gardner coring and Fareham goalkeeper Tom Mallon being forced into several fine saves.
Chances continued at the other end, however, with Gilbert scoring his fourth goal to complete a fine afternoon’s work.
Havant repelled three separate Chichester comebacks to win 5-3, while Fareham seconds emerged 5-2 winners at Haslemere, with George Davey and Aidan Page scoring twice each.