HAMWORTHY Recreation kept pressure on Wessex League Division One leaders Downton with a 2-1 victory over Clanfield, reports Ian Gilmartin.

Rec were made to work for the victory by seventh-placed Clanfield during a game hosted at Hamworthy United’s County Ground, the fixture moved from Magna Road following the recent storms.

Despite Rec’s dominance in possession, it would be Clanfield that led at the break thanks to Callum Reeves, but an own goal and a strike from Louis McWilliams turned the game around.

Recreation started on the front foot and should have taken the lead in the sixth minute when Clanfield keeper, Owen Craig, failed to hold onto a Chris Long cross and a surprised Frank Rosenwald could only push the rebound wide from 6 yards.

The hosts were dominating early on with the busy Ben Cooper controlling the midfield.

In the 11th minute Rudd saw a fine effort saved by Craig.

Clanfield were dangerous on the counter attack. Speedy Kian Towse was found with a long diagonal ball in the 14th minute and his fine cross found Reeves who blasted over from 12 yards when well placed.

Clanfield grew into the game when Rec lost a little patience after the opening 20 minutes and a dangerous cross from Freddie Penfold had to be dealt with by Ollie Woolley at the far post in the 22nd minute.

The only goal of the half came in the 39th minute when Penfold’s strength saw him find Reeves 12 yards out, who duly fired home to put the away side ahead at the break.

A corner for Clanfield in the second half would lead to Rec’s equaliser.

Having cleared the dead ball, Rec broke, finding Rudd, who managed to beat two defenders before seeing his cross deflect into the goal.

McWilliams forced a save from Craig on 71 minutes but the Clanfield keeper could do nothing just two minutes later when that same cut in from the left and hammered a 25 yard drive past the hapless keeper to put Rec in front.

George Deem was unlucky in the 75th minute to see his drive hit the crossbar, in the most notable chance of the closing stages.