Clanfield 0 Stockbridge 2: CLANFIELD started the game brightly and were the better team in the opening quarter of the game.

Stockbridge’s Peter Roberts was the busier of the goalkeepers and made two good one-on-one saves, and that combined with some poor finishing saw the home team fail to capitalise on their chances.

Stockbridge found their feet and settled into the game.

Callum Buck was lively for the visitors and he struck a post with a spectacular effort after beating two players.

Matt Hawkes opened the scoring for the visitors in the 34th minute.

The goal came after good work by Ross Belbin on the right found Jags at the far post and his effort was turned in by Hawkes from close range.

The visitors doubled their lead before the break when Hawkes turned provider after being put through by Martin McCann and he rounded the keeper and squared the ball to Buck who netted his tenth of the season with another close range finish.

Clanfield still posed a threat in the second half but never really troubled Roberts, as the visitors took control of the game.

Stockbridge had a chance of their own, but McCann’s effort just slipped past the post.

Clanfield manager Lee Blakely said: “We played some excellent football and should have been out of sight in the first half an hour of the game but we failed to take advantage of our good play.

“We lost discipline and shape for ten minutes and Stockbridge took advantage in that time and scored two goals.

“I’m very pleased with the performance but not the result. We learn a lot from the game and the players have to take massive positives from a good performance.

“We go again on Saturday against Fleetlands.”