JAMIE Rawlings is back at Fareham – and his switch from Reading hasn’t come a penalty corner too soon!

He decided at the end of last season to try his hand in the top flight of England hockey, writes Mike Vimpany.

But the move to Sonning didn’t work out and he’ll be back in Fareham’s all black strip for Sunday’s crucial basement battle against Isca at Henry Cort (1.30pm).

With only six goals in four winless games, Fareham have undoubtedly missed Rawlings’ drag flick qualities.

They will be desperate for him to be on target against Exeter-based Isca, who have lost all four games.

Fareham suffered a third defeat in four outings when Havant beat them 2-1 in a low quality derby at Havant College.

Havant took an 18th minute lead though Mike Deller-Merricks, who completed a neat move initiated by Craig Duffy, Charlie Stubbings and crisply set up by Ethan Hoddle.

It looked as though Fareham might change round on level terms when Jon Price scored his first goal in five years, picking up a round after Havant goalkeeper Maciej Pacanowski had beaten out Niall Stott’s shot from a penalty corner.

But right on the half-time break Charlie Stubbings ghosted down the left, eliminating a number of defenders before scoring Havant’s winner.

Winchester 2 London Wayfarers 3

A well-drilled, talented London Wayfarers outfit took the points from a South League Premier Division encounter at Kings’.

Industrious Winchester kept themselves in it right up to the dying moments of an enthralling game, which the visitors won 3-2.

Busy movement around the Winchester “D” from Wayfarers paid dividends in the first three minutes as a ball slammed into the the area was diverted by Alex Penney past keeper Dave Jones.

Winchester struck back almost immediately as Micah Smithard pinched the ball off an unwary defender, drove into the area and buried his reverse hit strike.

Winchester held the visitors to 1-1 at half-time although it was the Battersea-based opposition who had exerted most of the goalmouth danger with keeper Jones being called on to a number of times.

Just after a great point-blank save early in the second half, Jones repeated this moments later, only for Penney to mark his second goal after a series of pinball-like diversions in front of goal.

As before, Winchester responded quickly, skipper Kieran Malloy taking a free hit to himself just outside the area, driving-in and passing the ball across the face of goal to the waiting Mark Maunsell.

Winchester started to win some excellent possession in their own half, but went through a period of misplaced and forced passing which meant most attacks burned out quickly and Wayfarers were at them again.

However, there was no cageyness from either team as both were determined to win and piled forward. Wayfarers missed an open goal as the ball travelled agonisingly along an unattended goalline.

At the other end Kent Langridge forced a good save but with three minutes left on the clock, Wayfarers won a penalty corner and Penney finished off his hat trick.

He sent the ball between Jones and the post man to take the lead for the third and final time.

Teenager Rory Penrose could have taken a point at the death, but the visiting keeper saved well.

Trojans suffered their first SPL2 defeat, losing 2-1 at Tulse Hill & Dulwich, where Richard Aves was on target.

HAMBLE'S unblemished start to the Hampshire League season was checked with a 1-1 draw in the top table clash with City of Portsmouth at Satchel Lane.

Southampton’s two-match winning purge ended with a 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth II, while Romsey won 4-1 at basement club Basingstoke.

Trojans Ladies 3 Oxford Hawks 2

TROJANS LADIES scored twice in four crucial second-half minutes to clinched a win over Oxford Hawks - and put their first Investec Women’s Western Conference win points on the board.

They began brightly with Cita Haines latching on to a through ball from Kat Petch for an eighth minute lead they held until after half-time.

Then came a flurry of three goals in six minutes - Jess Amps equalising for Oxford from a penalty corner before Trojans struck twice in quick succession.

Amy Sheehan restored Trojans lead within three minutes and Jenny Gough tucked away a set piece to give the Stoneham girls a 3-1 cushion.

Some lax defending allowed Cathy Reaney to reduce the deficit, but Trojans repelled late Oxford pressure to secure their first win.

Southampton 1 
Wanderers 3
Southampton Ladies suffered their first defeat of the season, losing to second-placed South Women’s League rivals Wanderers at the Sports Centre.
They began with confidence with fast paced passing and a high press.
Rewards came when Sue Merry got round the back of the Wanderers defence to tee up Naomi Bulkeley to fire Southampton into an interval lead.
But two goals in quick succession swung the tide and enabled the Wanderers to run out eventual 3-1 winners.
Next up for Southampton is a testing visit to Fareham (Henry Cort, Saturday, 1.30), who have scored nine goals in their last two games, thrashing Barnes 6-0 and Tulse Hill & Dulwich 3-1.

FIXTURES
Saturday
Men
South League Premier 1: Old Cranleighians v Winchester
Division 2: Trojans v Wycombe
Hampshire/Surrey Regional 1: Haslemere v Fareham II
Hampshire League: Bournemouth v Southampton University, Hamble v Basingstoke II, Petersfield v Southampton, Romsey v Yateley.
Women
Investec Western Conference: Exe v Trojans
South League Division 3B: Fareham v Southapton.
Sunday
Men
Western Conference: Fareham v Isca (Henry Cort, 1.30).