Infinity aim to bounce back after ‘lazy’ show

Infinity welcome Bush Hill in the first Hampshire Premier League heavyweight clash of 2020/21 tonight.

The two clubs have dominated the league in recent years, along with Paulsgrove. Between them, Infinity and Bush have won an astonishing 93 of their last 113 Senior Division games stretching back to the start of 2018/19.

Bush won their second title in three seasons in 2018/19, pipping Infinity by three points in a ‘winnertakes-all’ last game of the season. That 4-0 loss at Bush in April 2019 remains Infinity’s last league defeat.

Last season the two teams only lost one of their 44 league matches before the campaign was cancelled.

Infinity, with 20 wins and four draws from 24 games, were 13 points ahead of Bush when life went into lockdown - but Bush had four games in hand and still had to travel to Knowle Village.

Infinity are currently three points clear of Bush at the top of the table, but the latter have a game in hand and a better goal difference.

The hosts are aiming to bounce back after a shock 1-1 draw with lowly Chamberlayne.

Danny Phillips was on target for the tabletoppers in a team performance branded ‘lazy’ by boss Gary Wheatcroft, above.

Chamberlayne had started the season losing 12-0 to Bush.

‘It upset my whole weekend,’ said Wheatcroft. ‘We were lazy, we weren’t up for it - that won’t be the case on Wednesday.

‘The league won’t be won or lost on this game, but it’s a big match and it would be good to win it.’

Infinity were without a string of regulars against Chamberlayne, including star striker Jamie White and defenders Gary Fitzhorswell, Richard Sibley and Jack Waters.

All four are back in the squad to face Bush along with new signings Derek Harding and Rory HunterBrown.

Former Fleetlands keeper Harding will be Infinity’s third keeper in six league games after ex-Moneyfields shot-stopper Anton Blake and young Kieran Webster. Centre half HunterBrown, meanwhile, has been signed from Stockbridge.

Infinity’s last league loss, in April 2019 at Bush, came in the same month that Bush last lost an away league match - a 4-1 beating at Paulsgrove.

Bush survived two red cards to beat Locks Heath 3-0 at the weekend. James Lavender was dismissed at the end of the first half, with his side leading 1-0, and James Whitlock saw red 20 minutes from time with the score 2-0.

Ben Baddams (2) and man of the match Callum Drake were on target in Bush’s first home game at their new Test Park surroundings. They have moved into the ground that was previously used by Solent University to stage Wessex League football.

Tonight’s game takes place at Hythe & Dibden FC, where Infinity are groundsharing, with a 7.45pm kick off.