Matchday delight as Duarte Martins nets his second hattrick of the season and earns his side the three points. A Martins hattrick and Scott Hills penalty earned The Purps the win against bottom in the league Blackfield & Langley on Saturday afternoon.

Stoneham made a second trip of the week to Hythe & Dibden to play their home league fixture against Blackfield & Langley on Saturday, a win for Stoneham would push them to 6th in the league 7 points from top of the league Bemerton Heath however a win for Blackfield would help boost their season and move them bottom of the table.

Stoneham kick off the game and start brightly, and 4 minutes in they record their first attempt at goal when from a corner: which is taken short to Ryan Penny who shoots but it hits the crossbar Ben Clarke gets onto the rebounded ball and shoots himself but goes into the side netting. With the pressure piling on Stoneham were creating more and more chances and arguments could be heard on the pitch from the opposition. Another great chance was made by The Purps when Jim Orvis whips in a great ball into the box Duarte Martins meets but his shot is wide. 17 minutes Stoneham are forced into an early substitution due to an injury with Cade Dyer, off comes Dyer and Adam Pattison makes his way onto the pitch.

The pressure finally paid off as in the 27th minute Stoneham went in front; Duarte Martins finds himself in space and from the edge of the box he shoots and hits it into the left-hand corner of the goal 1-0. A few minutes later it could have been 2-0 and what a goal it would have been, when Jamie Ovington wins the ball and shoots from just in the halfway line, the ball dips but not enough and goes over the crossbar. Just before halfway Stoneham go in front again when the ball is played to Martins, he goes one on one with keeper and he calmly slots it into the back of the net 2-0.

Stoneham started on the front foot in the first half and deserved to be going into the break leading after an overall great performance.

HALF TIME: - AFC Stoneham 2-0 Blackfield & Langley

Blackfield & Langley kick off the second half, but the same for Stoneham as the continue their attack and within 3 minutes register their first attempt for the second half of the game. Stoneham win a free kick in their own half, its take by Jamie Ovington, the ball is played over the top Duarte Martins brings it down on goes forward on goal but he pushed down by the defender shouts for penalty are heard but the referee waves them away and it’s a goal kick.

Duarte Martins is looking to secure his hattrick in the second half, and nearly goes about doing it in the 59th minute when a great ball is played over the top to him, he meets with his head but it’s just over the crossbar. Our second substitution is made a minute later when Nathan Clements comes off and we see Liam Callaghan come on. Another attempt sees Jim Orvis play a through ball to Duarte who wrestles through the line of defenders and he manages to get a shot away but it goes wide of the goal. Bad news of injury front as just being put on 8 minutes later Callaghan makes way due to an injury and in comes Scott Hills to take his place. Another attempt is made to further the score line this time by someone different, Stoneham win a free kick 25 yards out Jim Orvis takes, it rebounds out and Ryan Penny meets he shoots but his shot is just over the crossbar.

It didn’t take long but in the 74th minute Stoneham got their 3rd curtesy of Duarte Martins who secures his hattrick. Jim Orvis plays the play ball from the right-hand side into the box, Duarte gets away from his defender and slots the ball around the keeper who came off his line 3-0. With just 8 minutes to go we make a double substitution, we see George Ockwell and Isaac Evans come on and Jim Orvis and Ben Clarke come off. Going into stoppage time Stoneham win a penalty after a foul was committed on Lewis Nagle. Scott Hills comes up to take it, he shoots, his shot is saved but the ball goes under the keeper and over the line referee blows and points to the centre circle 4-0. Overall is what a great performance by Stoneham and fully deserved to win.

FULL TIME: - AFC Stoneham 4-0 Blackfield & Langley

Line-ups: -

Bruton, Barnes, Dyer, Bainbridge, Ovington, Clarke, Nagle, Orvis, Martins, Penny, Clements

Subs: -

Hills, Callaghan, Evans, Ockwell, Pattison