It was a bad day at the office for Ringwood as Folland Sports claimed a comfortable 6-1 victory at Long Lane in the Wessex League.
It was a bad day at the office for Ringwood as Folland Sports claimed a comfortable 6-1 victory at Long Lane in the Wessex League.
Will Grange grabbed a hattrick, whilst a brace from Jamie White and a late finish from Connor Rowe rounded off the scoring with Ringwood only able to find the net from a Harry Smith penalty.
Ryan Osman started on the left of midfield with Harrison Fay unavailable for the home side. Joss Holford and Harrison Clarke were both missing in the centre of the park meaning Ringwood adopted a 4-4-2 formation with Joe Petty and Morgan Cole in central midfield.
Former Southampton striker, White, who recently made the switch from Infinity FC to Folland Sports started up front for the visitors.
Folland flew out of the blocks and within two minutes White had found the back of the net.after the striker picked up a loose ball in the box, swivelling and finishing low into the corner.
Ringwood struggled to get any foothold in the early stages and Folland took advantage by racing into a three goal lead.
Grange was able to head home from a Nathan Gray corner on 20 minutes before Folland’s number 8 doubled his tally poking home from close range as a Fabio Manuel corner was half cleared by Ringwood’s rookie keeper Josh Daniels.
The home side started to come into the game though, and after half an hour Ryan Hamm received a short corner, but the striker watched his cross cleared off the line by Tremayne Moore.
In a 10 minute spell that saw Ringwood play some decent football they were rewarded with a penalty when Ryan Osman was brought down in the box.
Top scorer Harry Smith duly stepped up and converted the spot kick with a fiercely driven shot into the bottom left hand corner for his 19th goal of the campaign.
Ringwood went into the break knowing the next goal would be crucial but Folland- who had come out for the second half early - turned the screw on their opposition.
With an hour played, Gray provided another assist - this time for White as the number nine squared the ball in the box for White to slide home for his second of the game.
Ringwood looked to have had the wind taken out of their sails with Folland restoring their three-goal lead with the game all but done.
Ethan Anders then had a ball cleared off the line by Callum Horton as the away side continued to press and with just over 20 minutes left to play, Gange completed his hattrick after connecting with Manuel’s cross to head the ball past Daniels.
More chances fell to Gange, Manuel and James Johnson before Rowe completed the scoring with an injury time strike to compound the home side's woes.
NERVE SPORT spoke to Ringwood manager, Richard Morse after the game: “We just weren’t at it today from start to finish, obviously conceding that early we didn't recover from it.
“We had a ten minute spell when we scored and that was probably our best opportunity but apart from that we just didn't turn up, we were not at the races today which is a shame really.
“It got away from us and that first goal didn't help but then the next two goals we conceded we could have done better with - the keeper could have helped us out a bit but the nature of the goals was not good.
“They had more desire and will to win with a lot more on the game with them chasing promotion.
“The next goal was key after the break and if we had got it it could have spurred us into life but we didn't get it and it went from bad to worse."
Ringwood now travel to Andover New Street next Saturday as their gruelling fixture list continues and Morse knows it will be another “tough test” for his side
He added: “I’ve said before it is good to get a test against a top of the table team, again it is going to be another tough one away from home.
“It is a hard place to go Andover, they have some good players and we will prepare as we always do and get something up there.”
Ringwood currently sit 15th in the Wessex League whilst Folland jump up to third and are well placed for promotion as the season enters its last few months.