A DEPLETED Romsey side, shorn of five first team regulars slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Downton last Saturday.

A first half goal from Jack Odam levelled the scores at half time, but second half strikes from Sam Howe, who bagged a brace in the game, and Shaun Prentice condemned the Bypass Boys to a second defeat on the road in successive weeks, writes Tony Galsworthy.

An evenly contested first ten minutes gradually swung in the home side’s favour, and Town ‘keeper Jordi Valero had to parry a fierce shot from Marcel Laptus with Craig Bryant blocking a goalbound follow up effort. The Robins were not to be denied though and took the lead in the 27th minute, when Sam Howe scored from the edge of the box after a long through ball had eluded Town’s defence.

Romsey’s usual fluent passing game was a little off key with promising moves breaking down in the final third of the pitch and former Town ’keeper Matt Fredericks was largely untroubled in the hosts’ goal. A lifeline was provided when Harry Prisk’s corner bobbled around the penalty area and Kieran Hancock with his back to goal was bowled over by an overzealous defender resulting in a penalty kick. Jack Odam stepped up and although Fredericks guessed the right way and saved his powerful shot, Odam was able to net the rebound in the 38th minute. Prisk was the provider again when he made a fine run down the right wing and fed the ball to Odam whose shot from a narrow angle was turned round the post by Fredericks, as the first half ended.

The Robins signalled their attacking intent early in the second period when Howe saw a spectacular bicycle kick go just over the bar. Town responded with Liam Magee firing narrowly wide from a corner before Downton regained the lead with a simple goal in the 59th minute. Valero’s clearance to the halfway line was half volleyed by Jamie Overton into the path off Howe who took the ball in his stride and stroked it in the net from the edge of the box.

Town’s defence now came under intense pressure, with the hosts showing greater intensity and desire to win the ball. A raking crossfield pass found Prentice racing into the area and he slotted the ball confidently past Valero for the Robins’ third goal in the 68th minute. Laptus wasted a chance to increase this lead after being set up by Clarke’s surging run into the area.

The introduction of substitute Charlie Rattley invigorated Romsey’s attack and following a jinking run, he set up Odam to shoot narrowly wide as Town tried in vain to reduce the deficit. Downton’s win sees them switch places with Romsey in the league table with Town now in ninth spot ahead of tomorrow’s visit by Fleet Spurs to The AEC Protection Ground (ko 3.00pm).