10:22am Monday 28th July 2008
By Ian Wadley
BASHLEY are enduring a far from impressive build-up to their forthcoming BGB Premier Division campaign.
Steve Riley's side, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Blue Square South when losing in the play-offs last season, appear to be struggling following the departure of key triumvirate Ryan Moss, Craig Davis and Danny Smith.
The New Forest outfit fell to their third consecutive pre-season defeat, again against lower league opposition, when they were beaten 1-0 at the Recreation Ground by Didcot Town on Saturday.
The game's only goal came moments after the interval when Ashley Vine headed home a Michael Hopkins corner.
SIMKIN ADDS MORE
HAMWORTHY United could be a decent outside bet to challenge in the Wessex Premier Division this season after Phil Simkin added more new faces to his squad.
Making the most of the trouble at Bournemouth Poppies, Simkin has signed Mark Dancer, Rich McCabe and Max Crow, who join former team-mate Ollie Cherrett at the County Ground after he moved to Hammers last week.
Warren Byerley and youth team product Mark Claremont were the scorers as Simkin's men fell to a 3-2 friendly defeat against Andover on Saturday.
PRIORY IMPROVED
GRAHAM Kemp thinks his Christchurch side are "vastly improved" from last season after they notched up a fourth consecutive win on Saturday.
Priory, with new signings Gareth Barnes and Mark Smith "exemplary" according to boss Kemp, have been in fine pre-season form.
Their good run continued with a 2-1 victory over Portland, with goals from Mike Carroll and Chris Dillon.
MAGPIES DRAW
CHRISTER Warren's new-look Wimborne Town side drew 1-1 against Isthmian League outfit Merstham thanks to a penalty from Paul Roast.
Magpies have lost just once in pre-season so far, a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Winchester City.
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