Netley Central Sports blew the Hampshire Premier League Division One title race wide open by inflicting league leaders Infinity’s third defeat all season in a 4-2 victory at Station Road Rec.

By defeating Infinity, second-placed Netley have done the double over their title rivals and, with just two games to play, reduced the gap at the top of the division to just one point, giving them a chance of taking the crown if Infinity slip up in their remaining games.

Rich Adames gave Infinity the lead after just 24 minutes.

But Mick Mullens struck his first of the day to level it just a minute later, before Tommy Stringer made it 2-1 to the visitors at the break.

Danny Hodnett equalised ten minutes into the second period and, with just 20 minutes left, Mullens notched what could turn out to be a season changing winner for Netley.

Matt Camfield then buried the match late on with a well taken lob.

With so much riding on this game both teams were pumped up.

Netley came out of the traps quickly and produced the best of the early chances.

Pacy striker Marc Harnett zipped onto a couple of long balls forward, but put one attempt went wide and another landed in the arms of visiting stopper Lee Knowlton.

Although Netley produced those efforts, it was Infinity that maintained spells of pressure, with Sports attempting to hit their opponents on the break.

 

And soon after Stringer had rasped a shot just over the bar from the edge of the box, the league leaders were ahead.

Wade Wilson drove deep into Netley territory before slotting a neat through ball to Adames on the right of the box.

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The frontman set himself before side footing under keeper James Bosbury for 1-0.

Infinity were still giving themselves a hearty pat on the back when, just seconds after they had taken the lead, Netley levelled.

Keeper Knowlton had a nightmare as he failed to clear after he’d rushed outside of his area.

He gifted the ball to Mullens and the striker would have been silly not attempt to shoot at the open goal, even if it was some distance away.

His attempt was excellently taken as it sailed into the roof of the net from all of 40 yards.

Besbury, the Central Sports custodian, then gave a nod to his opposite number Knowlton as he had a moment of madness himself that resulted in Infinity retaking the lead on 35 minutes.

It took an audacious lob from Stringer to lift the ball over the goalkeeper, who had come to the edge of his area.

Netley, however, weren’t willing to simply hand their title rivals the crown.

They came out after the interval the hungrier of the two sides.

Infinity didn’t have a sniff at goal until Wilson thundered an effort from 20 yards narrowly over the bar on the hour mark.

Prior to that it was all Netley and, after having one attempt from a corner cleared from the line, they got the leveller.

Matt Watts’ corner was delivered right into the six yard box.

It was that accurate delivery that found Hodnett, who rose highest and held off interest from keeper Knowlton, to glance a header home.

Infinity picked themselves up and forced Besbury into a couple of decent saves.

Adames found himself in a great position to net his second, but he blasted over from the left of the box.

With little more than 20 minutes left Netley mustered what could be the biggest goal of their season.

Camfield, the right winger, zipped down the wing before crossing.

His ball into the box was met powerfully by Mullens, who planted a header home.

As Infinity searched for a third, Netley attacked on the break with the ball eventually finding Camfield, who lobbed with aplomb over Knowlton.