We pick up first away points of the season
Fleet Town finally picked up their first away points of the season on Bank Holiday Monday lunchtime, grinding out a narrow but deserved 1–0 victory at Knaphill.
After a string of frustrating away performances where promising starts had not been turned into results, this time the Blues held firm, protecting their slender advantage with determination and discipline until the final whistle.
The decisive moment arrived in the 37th minute of the first half. Brad Manning, who was lively throughout on the flank, whipped in a superb cross that found Sam Bartlett arriving in the right place at the right time. His first effort thundered against the underside of the bar and bounced down towards the goal line. Although striker Charlie Postance reacted quickest to nod the rebound into the net, the assistant referee had already flagged that the ball had crossed the line. The goal was therefore rightly credited to Bartlett – his first for the club since joining from Hartley Wintney. It was a well-taken strike and a moment he will not forget, opening his Fleet Town account in style.
The goal also continued a curious pattern for Fleet this season: in every league game so far they have struck first. On previous occasions, however, they had been unable to hold on, conceding equalisers and letting points slip away. On this occasion the side showed maturity and resilience, tightening up at the back and refusing to let Knaphill back into the contest.
The home side did push hard in the second half, roared on by their supporters, but Fleet defended with real determination. Both defences in truth were impressive, restricting the match to only a handful of clear-cut opportunities. When Knaphill did manage to create openings, Fleet goalkeeper Sam Gray was on hand to deny his former club with sharp handling and confident saves. His assured performance between the posts provided the platform for Fleet to complete the job.
The travelling Fleet contingent also played their part, with a strong away following boosting the Bank Holiday crowd to 177 – a figure well above Knaphill’s usual attendance. The final whistle was greeted with loud celebrations from the visiting fans, recognising the significance of the team finally breaking their away duck.
Victory lifts Fleet Town to ninth in the Combined Counties Premier Division South table, level on points with several clubs above them and only outside the play-off places on goal difference. With plenty of football still to play, and despite having played more games than some of their rivals, this result gives Fleet a timely confidence boost and something to build on in the weeks ahead.
Fleet Town
1 Sam Gray
2 Tom Drinkwater
3 Andy Matthews
6 Liam Avery
7 Sam Bartlett
8 Sean Swift
9 Charlie Postance
10 Theo White
11 George Sellick
12 Brad manning
20 TJ Taylor.
Subs
15 Reyon Dillon (on for Bartlett)
16 Hadif Darwysh (on for Postance)
19 Ollie Burke (on for White)
14 Finlay Warren
17 Lewis Hillary (on for Sellick)
Fleet Town are back in action at home on Saturday 30th August with a league game against Chipstead (3pm).
Fleet Town Women start their season on Sunday 31st August with a league game against Southampton Women (2pm KO) and on Monday 1st September Fleet Town under 18 start their FA Youth Cup campaign with an away tie in the Preliminary round at Abingdon United (7.45pm). Check the clubs social media for any late changes to fixtures.
