Southampton dent Eastbourne title hopes

Southampton’s creditable 2-2 draw with unbeaten Eastbourne virtually guarantees a third placed finish in South Women’s League Division 3B, which Wanderers – two points ahead with three to play - are now favourites to win.
Eastbourne, whose title prospects are fading after only one win in the last four outings, were rocked by a Southampton goal inside two minutes at the Sports Centre.
Lou Hopkins injected a penalty corner hard to Loz Carter, whose pass to Nat Romain created a perfect cross-goalmouth ball for Abu Woodcock to apply the finish. 1-0.
Southampton continued to play positively, but by half-time Eastbourne were 2-1 up from short corner routines.
But the city girls weren’t to be left short changed from their endeavours. Zoe Stride and Hopkins combined for Bernie Jones to equalise with a timely deflection.  Final score 2-2.
Having taken 13 points from their previous five matches, Fareham were optimistic of keeping the pressure on Southampton for a third place finish, but all that disappeared with a 3-2 defeat by Haslemere at Woolmer Hill.
Fareham were below par in the extreme in the first half and trailed 3-0 to strikes by Alice Toynton, Julia Williams and Kate Hutchings.
Some tough half-time talking by beleaguered coach Steve Lemon sparked an improved second half performance and penalty corner goals by Laura Pendleton and Tara Lemon.  But the damage was done and Haslemere won 3-2.
At least coach Lemon was back home in time to watch his Pompey heroes on Sky … it’s believed he was spitting pips by the final whistle!