ASHMOOR men's 1st team faced the long trip across the south coast to Fareham looking to maintain their unbeaten league start, but knowing that Fareham would be stern opposition at their home base.

Despite threatening well in the press, Ashmoor went behind early on to a soft goal.

It was a wake-up call for Ashmoor who went straight on the attack with Rich Fisher and Fletch Naisbett-Jones combining well to win a penalty corner. However, captain Jamie Bishop's double efforts were well saved by the Fareham keeper.

After a couple of Ashmoor chances, Fareham won their first penalty corner of the match through finding an Ashmoor foot. However, goalkeeper Ben Blundy was equal to it and saved low to his right.

The second quarter began at a frenetic pace and seven minutes, Ashmoor were on the scoresheet.

Cathan Wherry intercepted and dropped it back for George Galbraith. The midfielder drove the baseline and his pinpoint pass found Theo Bennett in front of goal, who buried it for his first National League goal of the season.

Minutes later, Tom Barnett thought he had made it two. He tackled the Fareham defender and nailed his finish, but the umpire decided the tackle wasn't clean and Fareham survived - the goal being disallowed.

Ashmoor looked the more likely to score but with three minutes until halftime Fareham found a fortunate foot in the defending circle. The Fareham striker caught the drag flick well and neither Blundy or Bishop on the goal-line could keep it out.

The away side produced their best 35 minutes of hockey after the midway break as every player gave their all to try to get a result.

Midway through the third quarter Ashmoor had a flurry of penalty corners, with defender blocks and keeper saves denying Bishop, and then Barnett. To add insult to injury, Fareham struck a third with one of their only chances of the half.

Ashmoor showed great determination to fight back and then, right on quarter time, Dinnie was cynically fouled and Ben Barnett fired home the resulting penalty corner to make it 3-2 with the final quarter to come.

More dubious defending from the home side led to further penalty corner chances for Ashmoor, but it was the attacking team who were punished for a couple of minor offences, with Ashmoor picking up two harsh green cards. Soon after, Galbraith was tripped approaching the shooting circle at pace but nothing was forthcoming and the final whistle came too soon with Ashmoor unable to get a deserved equaliser.

Ben Barnett, returning after a serious injury at England U18 training camp, was Ashmoor's standout Pallex Player of the Match amongst a large number of excellent performances.

Ashmoor remain in third place in the division and this Sunday, will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they host the relegated University of Bristol at their Totnes base. Push back is 1pm, and all support is welcome at the #freetosee National League game.

Following the men's 1st XI EHL match, Ashmoor's Boys Under 18 team will play their first game in the outdoor England Hockey Junior Cup. Ashmoor are the current holders of the EH Super Sixes U18 Indoor Hockey title having secured that back in January of 2025, so it should be an exciting match against Bristol-based Clifton Robinson.