STOCKBRIDGE were on the losing end of an eight goal Christmas thriller, as they fell to a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Fleetlands.

The Robins were hoping for another festive season win after an impressive 3-2 victory over Paulsgrove in their previous fixture.

And it looked as though they may get their wish when they took the lead after just three minutes.

Sam Hamilton let loose from the edge of the area and his shot cannoned past the visitor’s goalkeeper and planted nicely into the back of the net.

Stockbridge were playing some good football early on and went 2-0 up on 12 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for hand ball.

Jacob Marsh made no mistake from the spot to double Stockbridge’s advantage.

Two minutes later Stockbridge were stunned when Scott Hamilton struck for the visitors with a cross turned shot from the left, which curled in the wind and sailed over the head of Lewis Murphy in the home goal.

A shot from Jordan Whittey for the visitors just went wide of the far post on 22 minutes and soon after a good save from Murphy denied Fleetlands an equaliser.

The visitors then got back on level terms when a Matt Ward effort, which looked to be going wide, hit a divot and diverted into the back of the Stockbridge net.

Robin’s Declan Muspratt had a shot go over the crossbar two minutes later and soon after Sam Hamilton also went close.

However it was Fleetlands who took the lead when Jack Morby rounded midfielder George Holland and ended up with a tapin to put his team 3-2 up before half time. After the break Sam Hamilton and Mike Barker both went close for Stockbridge.

At the other end a shot from Hamilton was parried by Murphy but the ball came to Craig Hearsey whose shot was blocked on the line by the home defence before Murphy smothered the ball.

Fleetlands increased their lead on 65 minutes through Jack Morby to make it 4-2.

A minute later Muspratt took advantage of a defensive error and his shot went in off the post to pull one pack for the Robins.

The visitors made sure of the three points five minutes from the end when the ball came to Jordan Whittey whose shot beat the Stockbridge defence and went in just inside the near post.

14th placed Stockbridge will return to Hampshire Premier League action with a home fixture against Liss Athletic on Saturday, January 9.