Hampshire League - Premier Division

Locks Heath 2, Stockbridge 3

THERE was plenty of entertainment at Locks Heath Rec on Tuesday night as both teams served up a feast of scoring chances, the visitors eventually winning through on the back of a bizarre Steve Witt strike.

With a strong wind blowing down the length of the pitch, half of which was a quagmire, the game was far from technically perfect. In fact, rival managers Kev Parris and Barry Andrews would both have been tearing their hair out - if they'd had any!

Playing against the wind in the first half, it was Andrews' Stockbridge side who took the lead after a quarter-of-an-hour's play. Jon Vowles' looping free kick from the left cleared the players in the middle of the goalmouth, and an unmarked Steve Witt came round the back to thump home a shot from the edge of the six-yard box.

The lively Peter Lines was giving the Stocks defence a few headaches. It was he who equalised with 30 minutes gone, guiding a deft header over the stranded Alan Ralph.

Up to that point Stockbridge had looked the stronger, but now Locks Heath came into their own, and centre-back Glen Stock stole through the offside trap to give his side the lead five minutes before the break.

The first half had been fairly even but the second, with the advantage of the wind, was nearly all Stockbridge. Just a minute after the break Gavin Flye ran on to a through ball and chipped keeper James Harris. The ball seemed destined to stick in the mud, but amid howls of protest from the hosts, who thought he was offside, Jon Vowles shepherded the ball over the line for 2-2.

After that Stocks could have had a hatful of goals, but their best chances fell to Mark Vowles, who seemed to have left his shooting boots at home.

When Harris made a tremendous fingertip save to keep out Simon Poultney's header it looked as if it wouldn't be Stockbridge's night but Witt, the best attacker on view, finally settled the issue.

He mis-hit his left wing corner, which arrowed in at ground level towards the near post. Somehow, the ball snaked through a forest of legs, deceiving Harris, to nestle in the far corner of the net.

With six minutes to play, Stocks were able to hold out for the three points, but both sides will feel they could have done better.

Those in search of a heartwarming game weren't complaining, of course.