Alresford Town 1 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 6: ALRESFORD Town crashed and burned at home to Bemerton Heath Harlequins on Tuesday night, Russell Cook bagging four of the visitors’ six goals.

At Verwood Town on Saturday, the Magpies had shown defensive solidity but needed to add a goal threat. Instead, it was the defensive quality that went missing to leave the hosts well beaten and in a dispirited mood.

Ironically, Alresford had started brightly. In the first minute Ben Stanbrook headed narrowly over from a left-wing corner, and shortly afterwards a John Mulhern cross was deflected to Tom Donaldson, who also headed over.

But Bemerton took the lead on 13 minutes when Cook cut in from the right and arrowed a fine shot into the top left corner of Michael Weatherall’s goal.

A second goal, on 22 minutes, left the Magpies with a mountain to climb. A set-piece was cleared as far as Graham Mankin, who tried his luck from long distance. The ball was deflected to Cook, and the much-travelled striker took his chance with aplomb, firing under Weatherall and in at the far post.

A third goal came on 32 minutes. A slick through-ball from midfield sliced the defence open, and Jack Slade ran on to provide a good finish on the run.

At half time Grant Young and Dan Fox made way for Tom Riddell and Jamie Way as Magpies boss Martin Beck opted for a more attacking formation. The hosts nearly pulled one back when Donaldson’s pass sent Ben Unsworth through, but he was forced wide and the resulting low cross just eluded Liam Magee at the far post.

Bemerton took advantage. On 57 minutes centre-back Mitch Fear, up in the box for a corner, was able to chest the ball down with his back to goal and swivelled to fire high into the net from close range.

Alresford’s agony was far from over. Slade sent a glancing header just wide from a Dan Thompson cross, while at the other end a brief spell of Magpies pressure ended with a hopeful Stanbrook shot that flew well over the goal.

On 80 minutes Alresford were again made to pay for their inability to shackle Cook, the visiting striker completing his hat-trick via the underside of the crossbar. And Cook completed his quartet two minutes later, showing good skill on the left to get free and cut inside before firing another low shot past the beleaguered Weatherall.

On 84 minutes Donaldson’s free kick at last got the Magpies on the score-sheet, albeit with the help of a massive deflection. But Alresford will have to show a big improvement if they are to improve on their plight at the foot of the table in the long, cold winter ahead.