BEMERTON Heath Harlequins maintained their strong start to the Wessex Premier League season with a narrow 1-0 win away at Fareham Town.

Reece Rusher’s free-kick just after the hour mark was enough to separate the two sides, helping to ensure that Bemmy maintained pressure on early league leaders AFC Portchester.

Free-scoring Bemerton, who lead the division in goals notched with 45, have only been kept to one goal in a league game once before this season, with Portchester cementing top spot with a 2-1 win at the start of October.

Bemmy came close to opening scores in the first half when Danny Young saw a close range effort well saved by Fareham keeper Luke Deacon, before defender Garry Moody arrived to clear the danger.

In the end, Rusher would decide the game from 25-yards after George Higgins was felled. Rusher stepped up to stroke the ball home for his 13th league goal of the season.

On Tuesday, Bemerton overcame Whitchurch 5-1 in the Russell Cotes Cup. George Higgins scored twice as well as goals for Jamie Beasley, Rusher and Steve Walker.