Hants/Surrey Regional League

Reigate Priory 2

Fareham II 0

PRIORY leapfrogged Fareham to fourth place, as they look towards third spot, to take momentum into the close season.

Reigate have been on a fine run of form, with wins at Trojans and Winchester meaning the team has only dropped two points in 2010.

For the first time in weeks, Reigate were at full strength, with Ben Van Pelt and Dan Byfield returning to the Reigate bench, a testimony to the form the current side are in.

Their inclusion showed a statement of intent from Reigate that they would look to attack and continue the form that has seen them climb the league table in recent weeks.

With the defensive line passing the ball accurately around the back, attempting to move Fareham out of position before attacking with some pace.

Stephen Cobb, fresh from breaking his goal-scoring duck against Winchester that he has suffered from since he joined the club on a free transfer from Purley in the summer, broke the deadlock to give Reigate the advantage by throwing himself at the through-ball to deflect past a committed keeper.

It was a smart finish and typical of the experience centre forward.

Reigate continued to push hard, and the superior fitness of midfield combination Simon Owen and Andrew Porter showed as Fareham tired.

They were supported by a strong defensive performance from man-of-the-match Matt Thompson and his assistant Chad Hunter, who rarely put a pass astray.

The pair dominated at the back meaning that keeper Henry Williams had very little to do.

Reigate then added to their lead through Owen, when he flicked the ball low to beat the keeper. This gave Reigate the breathing space required to allow them to take control of the match.

Reigate could have been leading by more at half time, and when James Chesterton was sent through one-on-one against the keeper you would have backed him to score, however the Fareham keeper did well to ensure that Chesterton had to take the ball wide around him to create too narrow an angle to get a shot away.

Standing 2-0 to Priory at half time, the team talk was based around ensuring that a clean sheet was kept.

Reigate continued to press, with the ball rarely entering their half. Any through balls that were sent long were mopped up by Hunter and Thompson and then distributed around to the full backs Mark Childs and captain Matt Bennett.

Chances were few a far between during the second half and Reigate should have had more, with great chances being squandered by David Short missing an open goal and Cobb falling backwards in the area when trying to get a shot away.

The best of the Fareham chances came from a well worked short corner routine, however this was easily saved by Williams to ensure that the clean sheet was kept.

Fareham lost their tempers in the final 10 minutes, with two players being sent to the sin-bin.