IN-FORM Salisbury Hockey Club Men's firsts edged a seven-goal bonanza at Weymouth on Saturday.
The Lower Bemerton outfit ran out 4-3 victors on the Dorset coast, a result which retains second spot in Hampshire 1 and sees them go level on points with leaders Southampton University, who have a game in hand.
Salisbury’s top scorer Tom Morton broke the deadlock with a reverse stick shot that looped over the onrushing Weymouth keeper.
Soon after, the visitors doubled their lead after a well-worked penalty corner resulted in Henry Smith finding newbie Will Alvis who fired in from four yards for his first club goal.
Weymouth hit back instantly when a speculative ball found its way through the Salisbury defence before being neatly diverted through the legs of Lewis Gunstone-grey in the Salisbury goal.
Despite losing veteran defender Rob Selbie after 20 minutes through injury, the away side defended well making it through to half time with a 2-1 lead.
After the resumption, Morton bagged a second and Salisbury's third after converting Martin Clarke's set-up with a reverse stick shot.
Henry Smith then intercepted a Weymouth attack and sent captain Andy Renshaw through on goal who did the rest for a 4-1 advantage.
With ten minutes to go, the hosts sparked a mini revival, scoring twice.
“We had to work hard in the first half to keep the ball, the pitch wasn’t easy but Morts [Tom Morton] is on fire at the moment so it’s no surprise we went ahead," said Renshaw.
“For 25 minutes of the second half we were outstanding and, despite a few things that went against us, I’m delighted with the way we managed to see-off the game.”
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