QUEEN MARY'S COMEBACK

Cam Bradbury came off the substitutes bench to celebrate a debut second half hat-trick as Queen Mary’s came back from 2-0 down to beat Poole Grammar 4-2 and win their first Hampshire Colleges match of the season.
QMC enjoyed the greater possession in the opening half, but were hit by a sucker punch as George Heap headed Poole into a half-time lead.
Bradbury was among the three subs coach Chris Kirby sent on at the break, but still QMC couldn’t score and paid the penalty when Conal Burns doubled the PG lead.
Bradbury got QMC back into the contest with a brace, the second a brave header, before Adam Vince put the Basingstoke side ahead for the first time.
Bradbury completed his hat-trick with Queen Mary’s fourth in stoppage time.
A serious right ankle injury sustained by midfielder Miles Gibson took the gloss of Barton Peveril’s eventually comfortable 4-0 win over Andover at Chestnut Avenue.
Gibson was carried off with ankle and ligament damage – he could well miss the remainder of the season - after a heavy challenge shortly after Luke Bennett had fired BP ahead from a free-kick which the Lions goalkeeper fumbled into his own net.
Ironically Andover, who had beaten Richard Taunton’s 5-3 and Peter Symonds 6-2 in their two previous games, had arguably been the better side until that time, without necessarily threatening the Barton goal.
Two quick goals by Matt Rickman (pictured) – the first set up by Bennett and the second courtesy of another goalkeeping gaff – effectively finished the contest before half-time.
Andover had a goal disallowed in the second period, shortly before substitute Jake Gould scored BP’s fourth.
Leaders Itchen continued their winning start with a 2-0 win in the city derby against Richard Taunton’s, who put up a commendable fight with principally second team players.
“It was a really great effort by our boys,” said RTC coach Tom Barge, who were twice denied by Itchen goalkeeper George Beavis.
Jack Wilson eventually headed Itchen in front before James Smith clinched it with five minutes left.
“We were down to absolute bare bones, but the boys (mainly seconds) worked so hard,” Barge added.
Itchen are joint top alongside Peter Symonds with 15 points each, but the Winchester college have played two games more – and have lost twice.
They did beat Farnborough 3-2 with Eddie Lloyd, Lewis Wakeford, and Joe Sutherden on target.
The teams meet again at Bereweeke Avenue in the Peter Munro Cup on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s fixtures:
Peter Munro Cup: Peter Symonds v Farnborough, Portsmouth v Itchen, Poole Grammar v Barton Peveril/Richard Taunton’s, Queen Mary’s v Basingstoke.
Steve Perkins Cup: Barton Peveril v Peter Symonds, Farnborough v Itchen II, Itchen III v Havant Southdowns, Sparsholt v Fareham.