ADDISCOMBE 1, HASLEMERE 6

HASLEMERE took their season’s goal tally to 60 in Hants/Surrey 2 – nearly double the next highest – with this drubbing of fifth-placed Addiscombe.

The Blues remain one point ahead of Romsey who won a nine-goal thriller against HAC, 5-4.

The visitors came storming out of the blocks and goal machine Andy Powell put them ahead inside a minute. Ed Whitworth provided the perfect assist and Powell was never going to miss.

Addiscombe came back fighting, though. Goalkeeper Nick Short soon had a short corner to stop, but Addiscombe pressed home their attack and skipper James Bourne dispatched the ball high into the net with a superb drag-flick.

Haslemere were soon back on top, regaining the lead on 24 minutes. A short-corner move broke down, but Graham Stopher, with his back to goal, swivelled into space and scored with a ferocious strike.

James Bennett added a third early in the second half, after which there was no way back for Addiscombe.

An amazing individual effort by Tristan Conoley made it 4-1. Having won a free-hit outside the D, he took the ball past three defenders before coolly slotting under the keeper.

Powell rounded beleaguered keeper Jaap Stockmann to complete another brace on 53 minutes.

And with six minutes to go, Nic Cope took his goal tally for the season to 27 when he weaved past his marker and hit the ball unerringly into the bottom corner.