ALL the trials and tribulations of Alresford Town’s traumatic season were encapsulated in Saturday’s dismal 8-1 defeat at Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Of the Magpies’ starting eleven, only Ben Stanbrook was with the club in Alresford and there were only 12 fit men available despite 52 different names appearing in the black and white stripes during the course of their ill-fated Sydenhams Premier Division campaign.

Fielding five reserve team players with a combined total of just four first-team starts, second-to-bottom Alresford were overwhelmed by a strong-finishing Bemerton side who have racked up five wins and a draw in their last six games.

Lewis Cook slid in at the far post to get the demolition job started with just four minutes gone and, after Sam Griffin’s penalty had pinged back off the post, further goals from Cook and Dan Thompson made it 3-0 at the break.

Three more goals followed in the first 11 minutes of the second half through Jack Lovell (2) and Brad Magookin before debutant Louis Baldacchino finally gave the Mapgies something to smile about with a curling, long distance strike that went in off the underside of the bar.

But more misery followed as Griffin and sub Jack Slade struck two more daggers through the hearts of Alresford who round off a depressing season at home to Newport IoW on Saturday.

Bemerton, up to seventh, have two games remaining, both away – at Fareham Town on Thursday and Horndean on Saturday.

Liam Robinson opened and closed the scoring for Blackfield & Langley on Saturday as basement boys Folland Sports were put to the sword 4-0 in Hamble.

Jesse Gould and Sam Poole were also on target for the Watersiders, who are four points clear of Sholing and Andover Town in the race for Sydenhams Premier runners-up spot with three games to go.

Sixth-placed Team Solent suffered their third straight home defeat, beaten 2-0 by Brockenhurst at Test Park. Ryan Long and Mark Barker netted for the buoyant Badgers.

Goalkeeper Kenny Vaughan managed to score a goal instead of preventing them in a rare outfield outing for Bournemouth Poppies on Saturday.

But his effort proved in vain as the Dorset outfit were well beaten 6-1 at Horndean.

Braces from Mark Smith, Dan Hayes and Robbie Tambling did the job for the deadly Deans.

Moneyfields played their second game in 24 exhausting hours and still managed to beat Fawley AFC 2-1 at Long Lane.

Having edged a hard-fought derby 1-0 over AFC Portchester the previous evening courtesy of Lewis Stockford, Moneys had teenage duo Declan Seiden and Ryan Pennery to thank for their goals. Ben Bolton scored for Fawley.

Verwood Town stumbled 1-0 at Cowes Sports where Ed Sanders hit the winner, while Fareham Town (Luke Heard) and Whitchurch United (Dave Parry) slugged out a 1-1 Cams Alders draw.