Grove aiming for 10 in a row against Liss
Paulsgrove aim for their
10th successive Hampshire Premier League win against Liss Athletic tonight (6pm).
Grove have belted 40 goals in the previous nine victories, including a pair of 7-0 successes last season.
Boss Wayne Grant includes former Baffins Milton regular Shane Cornish in the squad, while strikers Danny Lane and Zac Willett are also included.
Lane struck 70 goals in his last two HPL campaigns – in 2017/18, when Grove won the league for the first and only time, and again the following season.
Willett has been recruited from Sunday League football, but Grove are without skipper Aaron Fennemore for Liss’s visit to Marsden Road and goalkeeper Adam Walker – back at the club after helping them win the title – is also unavailable.
Grove were second when 2019/20 was halted last March, and Grant said: ‘I’m looking to finish in the top three.
‘It’s going to be tough, the league looks the strongest it’s ever been.
‘I reckon Hayling will be a surprise package, I’ve watched them twice in pre-season and they look very sharp.
‘Infinity have brought in some players from Sholing, Bush Hill will be up there, Fleetlands will be up there.’
■ Harvest Home’s life in the Hampshire Premier League began with their first competitive defeat since March 2019 last night.
The reigning Mid-Solent League champions – who won all 23 of their games in 2019/20 – faced Denmead in their first-ever Division 1 match at Front Lawn.
They were a gosal down inside two minutes and ended up losing 3-0 to the side that finished second last season.
Kieran Hammond grabbed the opening goal, with
Lewis Crook doubling the advantage three minutes before half-time.
Danny Lucas – last season’s top scorer – added a third 11 minutes from time.
■ Don’t miss tomorrow’s The News for a round-up of tonight’s Hampshire Premier League action.