Creeksiders Cam Away With Three Points - Fareham Town vs. Whitchurch United

Sunny afternoon at Cam Alders

It almost feels like spring is here as I was able to chose a game the preceding Sunday and not have to worry about the weather and end up not needing a coat on match day. This of course changes this week which a forecast of heavy rain in the middle of the week but it was good while it lasted. The game I had chosen was The Wessex League Premier Division match up between Fareham Town and Whitchurch United. This was an important match as both sides needed points to pull away from the relegation zone. I visited Whitchurch's Longmeadow Sports Club a couple of seasons ago for another Wessex League match with Brockenhurst and they achieved a three nil win on that occasion. Fareham won the reverse fixture two one back in September.

Kick off under clear blue skies

Whitchurch come close in the early stages but the attacker can't get enough on a recycled ball after the initial cross is cleared. Then from a corner shortly afterwards, the ball is headed over the bar. Fareham then have a couple of chances of their own, the first of which the Whitchurch goalie makes a great save (a recurring theme as the game goes on) with his feet from a close range effort. Then he has to tip a dipping shot over the bar after the winger is allowed to cut inside. Whitchurch are able to get in out wide but the eventual effort is lashed well wide of the target. Fareham have a double chance in the closing stages of the first half. A free kick on the edge of the box is blocked by the wall before the keeper makes a great low save from the follow up effort.

Fareham winger takes on the Whitchurch defense

Whitchurch almost gift Fareham the opener at the start of the second half. The Whitchurch defender misjudges his header back to the keeper but he is alert enough to get the ball first. The Whitchurch keeper then makes another brilliant stop after the ball is headed back in the six yard box and then comes the key moment of the match. When the ball is played back in, the forward is brought down and the referee points to the spot. The penalty is buried to put Fareham one up. Fareham now go for the kill and the Whitchurch keeper comes to the rescue again to make another save with his feet. Fareham have further chances to make the game safe but the game ends one nil. 

View from the back of the stand

To get to Fareham from London, you can take a direct train from Waterloo and you'll get there in around an hour and forty minutes. If you can navigate the roadworks outside the station, the walk to the ground takes only ten minutes. The town center is in the opposite direction to the ground. My favorite pub in the town center was The Golden Lion which had a good selection of beers as well as a couple of Fullers Ales. The Ironmaster also had a decent selection of drinks. Then half way to the ground next to the scenic waterside is The Castle In The Air which is a good half way spot. The bar at the ground doubles up as a nightclub but did have a reasonable choice of larger. The burgers are also absolutely worth trying out. I really liked the ground and as you can see, the view from the stand is pretty impressive.

View down the dugout side of the ground