Foursome Stu Avery shows his class as Portsmouth Hockey first team record biggest league win of the season

Stu Avery struck four times as Portsmouth first team record a thumping win. Picture: Vernon Nash (051019-002)Stu Avery struck four times as Portsmouth first team record a thumping win. Picture: Vernon Nash (051019-002)
Stu Avery struck four times as Portsmouth first team record a thumping win. Picture: Vernon Nash (051019-002)
Stu Avery started 2020 in style as Portsmouth men’s 1sts romped to their biggest win of the Hampshire/Surrey Regional 2 season.

He struck four times as the second-placed city club remained 10 points adrift of runaway leaders Aldershot with a 7-1 hammering of lowly Camberley & Farnborough.

The success completed a comfortable double for Portsmouth, who had lifted the curtain on their season with a 4-1 away win on the opening day.

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Portsmouth struggled to settle with a number of unforced errors allowing their opponents time and space.

Portsmouth 4ths v Alton 5ths actionPortsmouth 4ths v Alton 5ths action
Portsmouth 4ths v Alton 5ths action

Early nerves, however, were settled as Avery opened his account with his first goal of the afternoon.

Three more would follow, including a penalty.

Niall Grey, Luke Parsons and Rob Hunt also netted as Portsmouth's solid backline spent the majority of the game untroubled until a lack of concentration and complacency left them exposed.

That resulted in keeper Ed Smyth rushing from his line and conceding a penalty.

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Portsmouth 4ths v Alton 5ths actionPortsmouth 4ths v Alton 5ths action
Portsmouth 4ths v Alton 5ths action

n Portsmouth 2nds travelled to Hampshire Division 3 leaders Fleet & Ewshot with a team featuring a few last-minute replacements.

Although keeper Steve Rowland ended up claiming the man of the match award, the visitors were still hammered 8-0.

Three down at half-time, Portsmouth heads began to drop and frustration grew - leading to a spell with 10 men after Jon Farmer saw yellow.

Among Rowland’s impressive list of saves was one where he stopped a powerful shot fired straight into his groin.

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Portsmouth 4ths v Alton 5ths actionPortsmouth 4ths v Alton 5ths action
Portsmouth 4ths v Alton 5ths action

n Portsmouth 3rds slipped to fourth in Hampshire Division 5 when they were beaten 6-3 at home by new leaders Fleet & Ewshot 2nds.

After falling behind early on, debutant Will Duffy levelled from an Owen Barnes cross.

Duffy hit the backboard again shortly after, but the play was brought back for a short corner which Portsmouth were unable to convert.

Fleet capitalised on their good fortune, moving into a 4-1 half-time lead.

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After Fleet had extended their advantage still further, Duffy did grab his second - only for the visitors to restore a four-goal lead.

Portsmouth had the final say with a Tom Love strike.

Duffy won the man of the match award, just pipping fellow 3rd XI debutant Caleb Rowland.

n John Arnell struck a hat-trick as Portsmouth 4ths maintained their two-point lead at the top of Hampshire Division 8.

Young Ryan Rochester shone in a new central midfield role as the city club won 6-0 at lowly Alton 5ths.

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