The Hawks beat Gosport Borough 3-1 in their penultimate game of preseason at the Draper Tools Community Stadium.
Goals from Rendell, Magri and Wright in the first-half were enough to clinch victory against their local rivals as preparation ramped up, ahead of the National League South kickoff against Welling United.
Both teams looked lively in the opening 15 minutes with chances going either way. Tommy Wright the first to test the Gosport keeper with a clean strike from the edge of the area, whilst Dan Wooden went inches from tapping home a Bradley Tarbuck cross for the visitors.
Scott Rendell opened the scoring for the Hawks inside the half hour mark when he ran onto James Roberts’ ball over the top. The striker kept his calm and slotted the ball home under pressure.
Boro’ got themselves on level terms within minutes as Dan Wooden sprung a counter-attack following a Hawks corner. Wooden shrugged off a challenge from Josh Passley before going on to beat Worner with a powerful finish.
Paul Doswell’s men went back in front on 36 minutes when defender Sam Magri tapped in a close range rebound following a Billy Clifford free-kick.
And the Hawks extended their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Tommy Wright beat the offside trap and finished expertly into the bottom corner past the outstretching trialist goalkeeper.
HT – HAWKS 3 Gosport Borough 1
Both teams saw a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges of the second period, but neither were able to muster a notable opportunity.
Abdulai Baggie did well to create space for himself inside the Gosport box on 67 minutes, but the tricky winger could only fire the ball straight at Ellis Grant.
Shaun Gale’s side did continue to threaten despite being behind and almost pulled one back through Bradley Tarbuck when he went through on goal. The midfielder’s effort was blocked well by the backtracking Joe Newton.
Substitute Theo Widdrington came close to making it four in the closing stages, but his 25 yard free-kick clipped the crossbar and went behind.
Jamie Collins limping off shortly before the full-time whistle being the only disappointing factor for the Hawks as they look to Totton next week in their final game of preseason.
FT – HAWKS 3 Gosport Borough 1
Starting XI – Worner, Passley, Magri, Collins, Oastler ©, Newton, Rooney, Clifford, Roberts, Wright, Rendell
Subs used – Green, Mclennan, Widdrington, McCarthy, Baggie, Wall
Written by: Ryan Honey