Havant-based Tim Davenport once again proved Fareham’s nemesis, scoring a goal in each half as Team Bath Buccaneers celebrated a slightly flattering 3-1 England Hockey NOW: Pensions win.

Bath, with their rich array of student talent, will be among the lead Western Conference sides again this season – but Fareham, looking a far stronger unit than the one that escaped relegation by the skin of its teeth last term, pushed them all the way.

“To lose was obviously disappointing, but we took a great deal of encouragement out of our performance,” said coach Ben Barnes.

Fareham found themselves 2-0 down immediately after the break, but clawed a goal back through Alex Boxall and had Bath on the ropes to such an extent that the West Country side lost discipline, picking up five yellow cards.

“We kept the game tight in the first half and at 2-1 the game was finely balanced,” Barnes added.

“We kept our heads as Bath – rattled by us and some umpiring decisions – lost theirs and were down to nine men at one point.

“If I was critical, we did not take our chances at 2-1 down. We had three or four really good opportunities and either we lacked the final pass or a bit of quality in the circle.

“Two-all would have made the final 15 minutes very interesting, but the late third goal – against the run of play – killed us off.”

Fareham took the confidence of their opening day 3-2 win over Barford Tigers 3-2 into the plush Bath University campus and were the Buccaneers’ equals for long periods of the first half.

Bath forced two short corners, but Fareham were a tad unlucky when teenager Jamie Rawlings saw a set piece of his own blocked on the goal-line.

Fareham, among many sides, are always wary of Davenport’s goal-scoring prowess and, sure enough, nine minutes before half-time the Havant-raised hit-man picked up the pieces from a penalty corner to drill a shot low to George Harris’s right to give Bath a 1-0 interval lead.

When Liam Sanford doubled TB’s lead two minutes after the break, Fareham might have cracked.

But with Gurmukh Bhamra catching the eye in midfield, Fareham got themselves back into the contest with Boxall making it 2-1 ten minutes into the second half.

“Alex’s goal came from a fantastic pass from Ben Hibberd and was nothing more than we deserved to get us back in the game from 2-0 down,” Barnes said.

The game was littered with Team Bath yellow cards as Fareham put the university side under the cosh – without getting the rewards they arguably deserved.

Four minutes from time, German international Nik Rieger – wearing a Zorro-style mask to protect a facial injury – forced a penalty corner with a magnificent solo run on the left byeline.

Davenport did the rest ..