Match Reports
SATURDAY 7th MAY 2011
Bournemouth Poppies 1-0 Winchester City (League Cup Final)
By MATT RICHBELL at Testwood Stadium
An early goal by Jesse Hodgson was enough to give Bournemouth Poppies a 1-0 victory in the Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) Cup Final against Winchester City at AFC Totton's Testwood Stadium. Hodgson capitalised on some indecision between City's defence and goalkeeper and he lobbed the onrushing goalkeeper, Rory Anderson, to put Poppies ahead much to the delight of their supporters. Matt Kemble and Jamie Rudd both had efforts from distance to extend Poppies' lead, but both efforts went wide of the goal. Suhael Odej, Martin Beck and Michael Byrne all had efforts to level for City but these weren't taken and Sean Hogan and Ollie Philipson-Masters could have exploited these missed chances had they taken their own chances. Mark Lilley squandered City's best chance of the half when he was denied from close range by Jason Harvell in the Poppies' goal.
Early in the second half, Matt Kemble had a couple of chances for Poppies began Winchester City began to press for an equaliser. Substitute Dwayne Peasah caused problems for Poppies' defence throughout the second half and he fired over on 52 minutes. Odej had a shot blocked to win City a corner amd from the resulting corner, Simon Quirke headed over. Poppies had an excellent opportunity to seal the victory on 70 minutes when Jesse Hodgson attempted to round the goalkeeper but his efforts were well saved by Anderson. Dwayne Peasah then missed another good opportunity for City with 15 minutes remaining and just one minute later, City thought they had levelled when Danny King found the back of the net, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. Michael Byrne had an opportunity to win it for City with nine minutes left but his effort was blocked. As the game moved into stoppage time, a goalmouth scramble caused chaos in the Poppies box with Danny King having an effort blocked and Odej having an effort but Poppies held on for the victory.
WEDNESDAY 4th MAY 2011
Andover 1-0 Alresford Town (North Hants Senior Cup Final)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Foxcotte Park
Alresford missed out on winning the North Hants Senior Cup at Andover New Street's Foxcotte Park by the skin of their teeth thanks in the main to a fantastic performance by youthful Andover goalkeeper Josh Cotterall.
Managers Tim Cole and Danny Robinson kept faith with the eleven players who had beaten Newport convincingly in the Magpies' final league game of the season. But Wessex Leaguers Alresford started slowly, and for the first quarter of an hour Andover belied their poor season in the Zamaretto Southern League South & West - they finished bottom with just 11 points - by out-thinking and out-fighting the Magpies.
The only goal of the game came after 8 minutes, and in true Alresford style it came from poor defending at a set-piece. A right-wing corner reached Andover skipper Craig Davis, and he stooped to head the ball back into the far corner of the net.
Before long, Alresford started to get a foothold in the game. Gary Bagley headed over when well placed, while Tom Donaldson had a deflected shot saved by Cotterall. Their best chance in the first half came on 31 minutes when James Eyles' long pass found Warren Bentley with his back to goal. The Alresford captain flicked the ball over his marker and rounded him to get in a shot, but Cotterall was out like a flash to block it with his legs.
Kicking down the slope in the second half, the Magpies laid siege to the Andover goal but couldn't make the breakthrough. On 54 minutes Mike McEnery shot low at the near post after good work by Dean Cole, but Cotterall again saved with his legs in miraculous fashion.
Two minutes later the young Lions keeper capped that by saving a penalty. The spot-kick was awarded for a push on Scott Waters, who was shaping to get a header on target. Although Bentley hit his penalty towards the bottom corner, the agile Cotterall somehow tipped it around the post.
The siege continued, but as time ticked by Alresford seemed to sense that Lady Luck was not going to smile on them, and their finishing became wilder. Even the injury-time dismissal of Andover sub Lee Bowen, who earned a second yellow card for time-wasting, came too late to make any difference.
So it was Andover who collected the Cup to earn some consolation for an awful season. But Alresford can walk away with heads held high after a committed and skilful performance at the end of the most successful season in their history.
SATURDAY 30th APRIL 2011
Alresford Town 4-0 Newport (IOW) (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
A convincing victory in their final league fixture of 2010-11 brought Alresford the reward of 15th place in the final table and 45 points, two landmarks they had never reached before.
Both sides were looking forward to cup finals in the coming week, Alresford the North Hants Senior and Newport the Isle of Wight Gold Cup. It was the visitors who were first to threaten, Scott Sampson rising unmarked to produce a well-placed header that Simon Everett cleared off the Magpies' line. In the ensuing melee Corbin Ricketts hit the Alresford crossbar.
But it was Alresford who took a 5th-minute lead. Good play on the right by Everett and Scott Waters resulted in a cross to Tom Donaldson at the far post, and his delicate chip gave Warren Bentley the easiest of tasks to nod home from almost on the goal-line.
Chances for both sides followed, Magpies' keeper Chris Waller making a spectacular save from Ricketts while at the other end Mike McEnery blazed a shot over the Newport bar after rounding the keeper.
Newport pressed hard early in the second half, but on 62 minutes Alresford doubled their lead when, in a goalmouth scramble following a corner, James Davis jabbed the ball home.
That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Newport, and on 68 minutes McEnery made it 3-0 by reacting quickly to convert the rebound after Gary Streeter had saved his initial effort.
Alresford were now in rampant mood, and just one minute later won a penalty when McEnery was upended by ‘Port skipper Darren Powell. Bentley drove the spot kick high to Streeter's right to end the scoring.
Results elsewhere meant that the Magpies climbed to 15th in the table, surpassing their previous best of 17th (both 2008-09 and 2009-10), a fine achievement by both the management team of Tim Cole and Danny Robinson, and the playing squad.
Midfield general Simon Everett was named as both Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year at the post-match celebrations, while the accolade of Managers' Player went to defender Joe Wright.
Alresford complete their season on Wednesday evening (May 4th) at Andover New Street's Foxcotte Park ground in the final of the North Hants Senior Cup. Their opponents are Andover, basement boys in the Zamaretto Southern League.
FRIDAY 29th APRIL 2011
Christchurch Reserves 1-3 Sholing FC Reserves (Combination Cup Final)
By MATT RICHBELL at Grigg Lane
Sholing FC Reserves completed a successful season with another trophy for the cabinet as they came from behind to beat Christchurch Reserves 3-1 at Brockenhurst FC's Grigg Lane home ground. Sholing, under the tuteledge of Dave Fear and Gavin Dobson, have excelled in recent years having won 11 trophies in the last five years. Well that is now 12 trophies following an impressive second half display against their Dorset rivals.
Christchurch took the lead after 15 minutes in dramatic fashion when Marcus Cullen took again from 25 yards and cannoned his effort in off the crossbar to send the Christchurch supporters into raptures. However this lead was shortlived as Sholing were quickly back on level terms. Adam Stride, who was impressive throughout, had a goalbound effort cleared off the line and following some neat build up play, the ball found its way back to Stride who coolly fired past the Christchurch 'keeper, Jason Collins, and into the bottom corner. Ten minutes before half-time, the ball found its way back to Sholing goalkeeper, Alex Dunning, who almost gifted Christchurch a goal as his clearance was inches away from striking the opposition player and into the net. The resulting kick did however eventually make its way forward and following impressive play, Dan Mason eventually collected the ball and got a shot away forcing Jason Collins into an impressive save. Minutes later, 18 year-old Mason, had another effort which this time deflected off a Christchurch defender and forced the keeper to tip over the crossbar. Sholing had another effort shortly before half-time when goalscorer Adam Stride had a shot saved at his near post by the Christchurch stopper.
Sholing continued to build on their grip on the game throughout the second half and Dan Mason was again causing the Christchurch defence problems as he this time turned well in the box but once again Collins in the Christchurch goal kept it out. Christchurch goalscorer Marcus Cullen then took aim from distance in a rare foray forward, but his effort was well saved. Twenty minutes into the second half, Jack McCarthy took aim from outside the box for Sholing but he fired wide. Adam Stride also fired wide of the target as Sholing continued to press for another goal. The goal eventually came on 77 minutes when Sholing were awarded a disputed free-kick. Matt Graham had no doubt what he was doing however as he curled his kick into the top corner much to he delight of the Sholing players and supporters. Six minutes later, after some Christchurch pressure, the win and another trophy was sealed as substitute Lewis Packham battled past several Christchurch players and squeezed the goal past the onrushing keeper and into the bottom corner. Packham who was a late addition to the squad, proved Dobson right in selecting him. Dobson stated that his excellent attitude in training merited an opportunity, once which he grasped with both hands to give Sholing more silverware.
WEDNESDAY 27th APRIL 2011
Pewsey Vale 1-0 Amesbury Town (Salisbury Hospital Cup Semi-Final)
By JEFF MATTHEWS at The Recreation Ground
Its Pewsey Vale v Downton FC in the Final of the Hospital Cup to be played on Tuesday 3rd May at Bemerton Heath Harlequins' home ground after the Vale won the semi final over near neighbours, Amesbury Town at the recreation ground tonight. It took a great save from the Vale's goalstopper Richard Payne to deny the visitors the early chance to take the lead on the 6th minute. Pewsey took the lead on the 25th minute, when Micky Martin was brought down in the box, he got up
and slotted the spot kick past the Towns keeper, Danny Harrison. The Vale should have gone further in the lead with two good chances before the break. Jack Hopper set up Ricky Franklin, but he shot wide and Martin was put through only to lift the ball over the bar. Both keepers were to make telling saves, the legs of the visitors keeper denied Franklin on the 65th minute and Payne in the other goal kepted the Vale in the game. A long ball forward found Craig Wheeler but again Payne was to deny Amesbury the chance to get back level and the Vale held on to thire one goal lead to take their place in the final.
MONDAY 25th APRIL 2011
Alresford Town 4-3 Alton Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
In Easter Monday's local derby at Arlebury Park Alresford got the better of Alton in a seven- goal thriller. Scott Waters and Warren Bentley for the Magpies and Simba Mlambo from Alton all helped themselves to two goals apiece.The first half saw numerous chances created by the home side, three of which were converted, while the visitors took both of their two opportunities to make it 3-2 at the break. Waters made amends for failing to make contact from a Bentley pass when only six yards out in the 8th minute by beating the offside trap a minute later and rounding the keeper to open the scoring. Four minutes later Waters made it 2-0 with a back header from James Eyles' long throw which looped over Atkinson in the visitors' goal. More chances followed as both Dean Cole and Mike McEnery went close for the hosts. But Alton pulled one back when Jonny Gray latched onto a long punt upfield to beat Chris Waller in the home goal. Bentley made it 3-1 just three minutes later when a cross from the right found him ten yards out, and he fired emphatically into the roof of the net.
Alton were not to be denied, however, and Mlambo got his first after 44 minutes when a free kick was flicked on by Gray and Mlambo pounced to slip the ball past the advancing Waller and make the half time score 3-2.Alton had the better of the first 25 minutes of the second half with forceful, direct play. The Magpies were less effective as an attacking force, but on 72 minutes Bentley increased their advantage to 4-2 from close range following a delicate pass threaded through the Alton defence by Simon Everett. For the latter part of the second half there were chances at both ends with the home side making more regular forays into the Alton box.Mlambo reduced the deficit on 88 minutes with a header from a free kick, and would have secured a share of the points in injury time had it not been for a timely clearance by Joe Wright, who denied Gray from six yards.
SATURDAY 23rd APRIL 2011
Christchurch 2-1 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Hurn Bridge
Alresford tasted defeat in their final away league fixture of the season, but did much better than the corresponding match last year - which Christchurch won 6-0! Fortunately for the Magpies, results elsewhere mean that Alresford are certain to finish no lower than the 18th place they currently occupy.
The visitors gave a first start to Gary Bagley, who was signed in mid-season but had been kept out of action for an extended period by a persistent injury. Bagley looked capable and mobile in the centre of defence, but the old bugbear of conceding goals from set-pieces raised its ugly head again in the shape of the Christchurch winner.
Alresford had the first shot on target, with James Davis firing in a 2nd-minute effort that Stewart Kearn saved low down at his near post. But the hosts struck back, and fears of a repeat of last season flickered when with just 4 minutes on the clock. Paul Roberts was denied by an Alresford tackle, but veteran midfielder Mark Smith rammed home the loose ball for the first goal of the afternoon.
The visitors rallied, and gradually gained a foothold as both sides strove for entertaining football. The equalizer came on 33 minutes when Dean Cole's cross from the right was hooked in by Davis from close range.
Both sides had chances in the second half, but it was Christchurch who claimed all three points from a 73rd minute corner. The Magpies failed to clear the cross, and in the press of bodies in the six-yard box, Ben Osborne rifled the winner from close in.
After that the game gradually petered out as the heat took its toll; both sides seemed to accept the outcome, which in the end went very much by the form book.
TUESDAY 19th APRIL 2011
Hamble ASSC 1-3 Brading Town (Premier Division)
By MATT RICHBELL at Follands Park
Brading Town recovered from an early setback to win 3-1 away at Hamble ASSC in the Premier Division on Tuesday night. Hamble took the lead within the opening ten seconds but Brading strived for an immediate respose and came close with Giancarlo Giancovich striking the crossbar from the edge of the box. Giancovich then had another opportunity but he fired over. Hamble then had a small spell of pressure and Troon and Musselwhite both came close for the hosts. Morris then had several shots blocked for the visitors before they eventually drew level on 28 minutes when Dean Stuber headed home from a corner despite a strong hand from the Hamble keeper. Brading then had a couple of chances before Alex Prezpoleski had a free-kick saved and Giancarlo Giancovich headed in the rebound from close range. Both sides had several chances before the break but it remained 2-1 to Brading at half-time.
Immediately after half-time it was 3-1 when Scott Jones fired home from close range. Brading then squandered several further opportunities before the game began to become heated and Morris was sent off for Brading following a two-footed lunge and Barron was sent off for his reaction to the challenge. Hamble had several chances late on but Ashley Jarvis and Gregory were both unable to find the target.
SATURDAY 16th APRIL 2011
Fleet Spurs 0-4 Pewsey Vale (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Kennels Lane
Spurs were well beaten by a Pewsey Vale side that was more solid in defence and much more incisive in attack. A spell of three goals in quarter of an hour in the first half put the game out of Spurs' reach before the break.
The game started brightly with Spurs having most of the possession without unduly troubling the Vale defence whilst the visitors' direct style of play was causing Fleet some problems. After 20 minutes Pewsey's strength and Fleet's weakness at set plays was demonstrated as Vale defender Joe Hornbogen rose unmarked to head home a free kick. Ten minutes later, Jon Guthrie beat home keeper Jon Sheppard to the ball and easily slipped the ball into an empty net. Five minutes after that, the visitors increased their lead after another set play. This time, Michael Martin was unchallenged as he headed in a right-wing corner. Pewsey were now completely on top and Spurs were fortunate not to concede more before half-time.
After the break, the game became a stalemate as Pewsey seemed happy to sit on their three-goal lead and Spurs created very few real chances. Then two minutes before the end of normal time, Vale sub Danny Horwood met a right-wing cross at the far post to seal a conclusive and deserved victory.
SATURDAY 9th APRIL 2011
Alresford Town 3-0 Moneyfields (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
Alresford all but made certain of keeping their place in the Wessex Premier for next season with this comfortable victory over a Moneyfields outfit who never really showed what they are capable of.
With James Davis and Warren Bentley available again the Magpies were just about at full strength for the first time in ages. They took a firm grip on the game from the outset, with the back four of Davis, James Eyles, Danny Edwards and Joe Wright performing so capably that, in the first half at least, keeper Chris Waller had virtually nothing to do.
Mike McEnery had already come close when, on 20 minutes, the home side took the lead. Warren Bentley picked out Danny Barber at the near post with a well-flighted free-kick, and Barber scored with an excellent flicked header.
On 26 minutes in was 2-0, McEnery reaching the bye-line with a mazy run. Tom Donaldson touched his low cross on to Simon Everett, who was able to run the ball into the back of the net.
Everett nearly made it 3-0 with a volley that was just off target after a neat one-two with Bentley, and Donaldson side-footed wide when well placed as the Magpies continued in the ascendancy.
Two minutes after the break Alresford added a third goal when Bentley's first-time pass sent Donaldson racing clear of the Moneys defence. Donaldson was brought down by keeper David Hook as he attempted to round him, and Bentley blasted home the resulting penalty to make it 3-0.
Moneyfields played better after that. Waller made good saves from Bickram Singh's fierce drive, which he tipped onto the bar, and Dean Blake's free-kick. But although the visitors were on top territorially in the latter part of the game, there was never any prospect of them mounting a serious challenge.
SATURDAY 2nd APRIL 2011
Alton Town 1-2 Christchurch (Premier Division)
By MATT RICHBELL at the Bass Sports Ground
Christchurch came from behind to score a last gasp winner away at Alton Town. In a cagey opening 45 minutes, Alton took the lead on the half-hour with Mark Clothier finding the back of the net from 30-yards that crashed in off the crossbar. Make-shift Brewers striker Steve Brown then had a chance to make it two but he headed over.
In the second half Alton had further chances to extend their lead but Mark Clothier and Ross Cook both had efforts well saved by Stewart Kearn in the visiting goal.
The turning point in the game happened with quarter of an hour remaining when Christchurch had a goalbound shot cleared off the line illegally by the hand of Tom Walsh. He was dismissed and Mark Smith squeezed the penalty beyond Craig Atkinson to make it 1-1. Colin Dand, James Burden and Paul Roberts all had chances to win it for the visitors and with time almost up, Jon Grace headed in from close range to make the final score 2-1 to Christchurch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_R_wwn_8Ok
Whitley Bay 3-1 Poole Town (FA Vase)
By NEIL PERRETT (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk)
POOLE Town faltered at the final hurdle on the road to Wembley as their FA Vase dream was shattered by holders Whitley Bay.
Paul Chow bagged a clinical hat-trick to book the Northern League outfit a third successive appearance in the showpiece final, the holders meeting Coalville.
Leading 2-1 from last week's first leg at Tatnam, Bay recovered from conceding an early goal with Chow's exploits seeing them home with relative ease, 5-2 on aggregate.
The Dolphins made a dream start when they cancelled out Bay's first-leg lead after just eight minutes.
Dan Cann's long throw into the danger area caused mayhem, with Dave Sturgess scrambling the ball over the line at the far post.
Poole were thankful to Nick Hutchings for ensuring their lead was preserved when the goalkeeper saved bravely at the feet of Chow after the striker had gone clear just seconds later.
Having weathered an early storm, the hosts and holders began to find some rhythm with Hutchings and Lamin Dibba combining to spare the Dolphins.
Firstly, Hutchings beat away a fierce drive from Lee Kerr before Dibba cleared off the line from Chow's follow-up effort.
However, disaster struck for Poole when Chow restored Bay's aggregate lead, the striker capitalising on some slack defending from Michael Walker to score.
Chow delicately lobbed the ball over the advancing Hutchings after Walker had failed to deal with a routine clearance from deep.
Buoyed by the goal, Bay seized the initiative and Paul Robinson went close to netting after Chris Fawcett's free-kick had eluded the Dolphins defence.
Poole were rocked by the loss to injury of skipper Carl Poore early in the second half with his replacement Aaron Skelton at fault as Bay extended their lead.
Chow worked an opening with Robinson before drilling emphatically past Dolphins goalkeeper Hutchings in the 59th minute.
And there was no way back for Poole after Chow had pounced on the loose ball to complete the scoring with 62 minutes on the clock.
TUESDAY 29th MARCH 2011
Fleet Spurs 2-5 Downton (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Kennels Lane
A spell of three goals in three minutes either side of half-time ensured that leaders Downton left Southwood with all three points.
The game started brightly with Downton looking the more dangerous team, and it came as something of a surprise after seven minutes when the visitors' defence failed to clear a free-kick and Tom Chillery volleyed on the loose ball powerfully home. Five minutes later, the visitors were unlucky when a shot hit the underside of the bar but bounced clear. The game then began to settle with Fleet keeping Downton at bay with a fair degree of comfort until two minutes before half-time when a quick break found Dan Gain with only keeper Ryan Bone to beat, which he did emphatically. A minute later, Declan McGregor ran on to a long ball down the middle, outpaced the Fleet defence and slotted the ball into the corner of the net. Downton's delight at this quick turn round was evident.
Matters grew even worse for Spurs when Downton went on the attack straight from the second half kick-off and Ben Halski scored from close range with the ball only just crossing the line. The game then became much quieter as Downton were comfortable with their lead and Fleet were unable to create many chances. Halfway through the second period, the visitors were awarded a penalty and McGregor made no mistake from the spot. As normal time ended, Spurs had a penalty of their own when Chillery was brought down in the box and Sam Knowles scored with a low shot that keeper Charlie Aldridge couldn't quite reach. Downton went straight down the other end and sub Matt Redman was able to place a low shot beyond Bone's right hand.
Winchester City 3-4 Alresford Town (aet) (North Hants Senior Cup)
By GREG BOUGHTON at the Denplan City Ground
Alresford booked their place in the final of the North Hants Senior Cup after 120 minutes of non-stop thrills and spills against City at the Denplan Stadium.
When these two sides met in the League at Winchester in February the hosts edged a seven-goal thriller by a single goal; this game was a mirror-image of that one.
City were first to strike, on 14 minutes, when Zac Glasspool wriggled free of two defenders to rifle the opener into the top right corner of the net.
The Magpies struck back less than a minute after half-time, James Davis finding the net from close in. The visitors then edged ahead, on 57 minutes, when Ash Ledger's shot was deflected to the busy Mike McEnery, who made no mistake.
City equalised on 60 minutes with an absolutely fantastic goal, Glasspool finding the top-left corner of the net with a 35-yard screamer. And 15 minutes later the hosts looked to have won it when Mike Dixon set off on a forceful solo run through the middle, shrugging off several would-be tacklers to make it 3-2 to the home side.
However, Alresford clawed their way back on level terms on 81 minutes when Tom Donaldson showed superb technique to volley in Danny Edwards' pump forward as the ball dropped over his shoulder.
Extra time brought just the one goal, Alresford sub Scott Waters nipping in to meet Donaldson's cross at the far post on 114 minutes. The closing stages were tense, but Alresford ran down the clock by using the corners of the pitch effectively, and held out to claim a well-deserved place in the final.
They will meet either Andover or Whitchurch United in the final (date and vernue tba); the other semi-final was called off due to floodlight failure at Whitchurch's Longmeadow ground.
SATURDAY 26th MARCH 2011
Downton 3-0 Petersfield Town (Division One)
From www.downtonfc.com
The Robins confirmed promotion to the Wessex Premier with an impressive win over in-form Petersfield Town. Petersfield had scored 19 goals in their previous 3 games, while the Robins, who recently lost their unbeaten record, were aware that a victory would give them promotion. However, it was the Robins that got the scoring underway with a fantastic opening goal in the 10th minute. Matt Holmes floated in a cross, Declan McGregor flicked it down to the returning Calum Robertson, who poked it through to Nic Turpin to tap home. Ben Smith nearly doubled the tally from a corner, his bullet goal-bound header being deflected over. Downton came out all guns blazing in the second half. Ben Smith managed to put his flying header into the net on the 60th minute, but the goal was disallowed for an infringement against the Petersfield keeper. Paul Gulliver's ball in a minute later evaded McGregor. It was McGregor, though, he made the second, his shot hitting the post for James Fry, making his debut, to follow up and score. And it was apt the McGregor himself got the last word, scoring in a one-on-one in the last minute, his, and the team's, elation at promotion very apparent.
Ringwood Town 0-0 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Long Lane
Another resolute defensive performance gained Spurs a well-earned point at the Canotec stadium.
The game started brightly with both sides creating good chances but squandering them with careless finishing, though Tom Taylor had to make a good diving save to prevent Fleet skipper David Blake from giving Spurs the lead. By the middle of the first half, however, the game had settled down into a defensive stalemate that was to last for the rest of the game. Both teams were too ready to pass the ball to the wrong coloured shirt and the hard pitch provided little excuse for players with time on the ball failing to find colleagues time and time again.
After the break, the game continued in the same vein with both teams showing plenty of effort and determination but creating little coherent play. Ringwood had a couple of good chances after scrambles in the Spurs goalmouth, but a mixture of poor finishing, dogged defending and some good luck denied the home side the chance of opening their account. Spurs' best chance came in the last minute of normal time, when Sam Knowles rounded keeper Taylor only for home defender Peter Old to make a fine goal-line clearance to block the tall striker's goal bound effort.
A draw was a fair result with Spurs failing to score in a Wessex League game for the first time in over a year. They remain tenth in the league and entertain runaway leaders Downton - who are now guaranteed one of the promotion places - at Southwood on Tuesday (7.45 kick-off). Spurs will need to continue their recent defensive improvement if they are to stand a chance of getting anything from this game. On Saturday they visit Shaftesbury (kick-off 3 pm).
Totton & Eling 4-1 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Little Testwood Park
Alresford started this game well enough, and could have taken the lead in the first minute when Tom Donaldson was through on goal. But his lob cleared the bar by some margin, and although the Magpies pressed hard in the early stages they were unable to make the breakthrough.
T&E took in the lead on 14 minutes; it was almost their first attack. Speedy winger Steve Jenkin was the scorer with a cross to the far post that deceived keeper Chris Waller and flew straight into the top corner of the net.
Five minutes later the hosts doubled their lead from a long ball down the middle. The Alresford defence parted like the Red Sea, and John Roberts tucked the ball away. Worse was to follow on 33 minutes when ex-Southampton FC Premiership midfielder Jo Tessem fired a peach of a long ball up to Jenkin, who raced clear to score his side's third.
With the game already won, &&E didn't have to do a great deal in the second half. Once again Alresford tried to pile on the pressure, but the home side broke away to make it 4-0 with a fine shot on the turn by Adam Lowther.
Late on Alresford looked more dangerous, with sub Mike Broughton and midfielder warren Bentley prominent in their attacking play. Bentley came close with a volley and then with a header before scoring his side's consolation goal from close range after James Davis set him up with a slide-rule pass.
But it was all too little too late for the Magpies, who visit Winchester City in the North Hants Senior Cup on Tuesday night (Mar 29) before returning to Arlebury Park for a home league game against Brading next Saturday.
Totton & Eling 4-1 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By MATT RICHBELL at Little Testwood Park
Despite dominating the opening stages, Alresford Town found themselves 3-0 down at half-time. Tom Donaldson and Dan Strange both squandered early chances before a cross-cum shot from Stephen Jenkin floated beyond the Alresford goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The hosts doubled their lead six minutes later when John Roberts coolly converted a one-on-one. Stephen Jenkin netted his second and the Millers' third goal before half-time when he rounded Alresford 'keeper, Waller, and tapped the ball into the empty net. Alresford looked to find a way back into the game early in the second half when James Eyles had a free-kick saved. However, the hosts went 4-0 up on the hour when Adam Lowther struck into the top corner from the edge of the box. Warren Bentley had several chances for the visitors with ten minutes remaining and Bentley did eventually score from close range following neat build-up play involving Simon Everett and James Davis who squared for Bentley to score from close range. Tom Donaldson had a shot blocked moments later and Mike Broughton was denied by a smart save from Totton & Eling goalkeeper, Brown, at the death.
FRIDAY 25th MARCH 2011
Brockenhurst 0-5 Bournemouth (Premier Division)
By MATT RICHBELL at Grigg Lane
Bournemouth Poppies comfortably beat Brockenhurst 5-0 at Grigg Lane in a fixture that celebrated 25 years of Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) Football. Brockenhurst and Bournemouth are the only two sides that have competed in every season since the league was formed in 1986 which is why this fixture was selected as a celebratory fixture for the league.
Jesse Hodgson had an early header saved as Poppies looked to take the advantage early on. On 15 minutes, Mark Barker coasted in round the back of the Bournemouth Poppies defence only to fire wide when on the edge of the box with just Jason Harvell in the Poppies goal to beat. Five minutes later, Poppies had a corner which Sean Hogan sent goalwards and the ball clipped the top of the crossbar.
Poppies took control of the game on 33 minutes when Brockenhurst had several opportunities to clear but failed to do so leaving Poppies top goalscorer Matt Kemble with a simple one-on-one which he poked beyond Sean O'Rourke in the hosts goal. Three minutes later and Jesse Hodgson made it 0-2 with a powerful header from a Tom Green cross. Kemble could have made it three just moments later but his effort was saved.
Five minutes after half-time and was Poppies again doing all the running as this time Jesse Hodgson saw his header tipped onto the crossbar and over by O'Rourke. From the resulting corner, it was Jake Rowley's turn to header against the crossbar as Poppies searched for their third goal of the night. The elusive third did eventually come just before the hour mark when Scott Arnold fired beyond O'Rourke at his near post. Dan Friedman had a rare attempt for Brockenhurst before Tom Green was twice denied for Poppies and Kemble also saw an effort blocked. Following a smart cross field pass, Jake Rowley coolly controlled the ball and squared beautifully for Matt Kemble to bag his second goal of the night and Poppies' fourth. In the dying stages of the game, Matt Kemble completed his hat-trick and scored the final goal of the night with a well taken one-on-one to leave Brockenhust languishing towards the foot of the table having conceded ten goals in just two matches.
SATURDAY 19th MARCH 2011
AFC Portchester 1-1 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at the Wicor Recreation Ground
Spurs visited Portchester on the day of the grand opening of their splendid new clubhouse, and played with great resolution to prevent the home team celebrating by taking all three points.
After leaking goals over the last few matches, Spurs had opted for a solid 3-5-2 formation with two mainly defensive wing-backs and top scorer Sam Knowles skippering the side in an unaccustomed centre midfield position. The game started slowly, with defences on top and neither side creating any real chances. Portchester's only real first-half chance came when Mark Collis had a low free kick well turned round the post by 16-year-old keeper Ryan Bone, who went on to have an excellent game. For Spurs, Neil Selby had a half-chance after a good right-wing run and cross from David Pitt but fired wide.
After the break, Portchester soon broke the deadlock when Fleet reacted dozily to a free-kick and skipper Neville Farley gave the home side the lead from the edge of the box after Bone could only parry a close-range shot. Portchester began to get on top, but unlike in recent games Spurs reacted to the pressure with determination and kept their opponents out comfortably. Three substitutions seemed to give Spurs extra impetus and they began to dominate possession. Six minutes from the end, Matthew Pegg, one of Spurs' subs, drove in a free-kick from well out on the left and the ball deceived the whole of the home defence, nestling in the far corner of the net. Both sides now went all out for the winner with chances at either end, but both defences held firm with Bone making three or four outstanding saves.
Winchester City 0-3 Poole Town (Premier Division)
By MATT RICHBELL at The Denplan City Ground
Poole Town earned a massive three points in the top-of-the-table clash at the Denplan City Ground against league leaders Winchester City. After a tight opening 45 minutes, The Dolphins took control of the game early in the Second half. Poole winger Carl Preston caused City problems all afternoon and his delivery into the box caused confusion and under pressure, City centre-half Leigh Mills headed into his own net. Poole squandered several other chances before Carl Preston darted into the City penalty box and was brought down. Micky Hubbard fired the penalty past Rory Anderson to make it 2-0. Shortly afterwards Preston earned another penalty after being fouled by City goalkeeper, Anderson, but on this occasion, Hubbard was thwarted by Anderson who saved well. The Dolphins did eventually make it three when substitute Tom Jeffes turned in the box and fired home to send the Dolphins back to Dorset with all three points. Jeffes could have made it four late on but his goalbound effort was blocked and went behind for a corner.
TUESDAY 15th MARCH 2011
Downton 2-3 Bradford Town (Wiltshire Senior Cup)
From www.downtonfc.com
Downton's septimana horribilis culminated in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Western Division 1 side Bradford Town in the semi finals of the Wiltshire Senior Cup.
Downton had started brightly enough, with Ben Halski grabbing the opener and seeing a chance to grab a second go begging soon after. The opposition, clearly a solid side, bearly troubled keeper Charlie Aldridge in the first 45 minutes and the Robins came off the pitch, sitting comfortably but with only one goal to show for their troubles.
It was Brandford who came out the blocks quickest in the second half, scoring after 55 minutes from a free header. Downton had a decent penalty appeal turned down several minutes later, following which Bradford struck again.
Two more goals in the next 5 minutes really summed up the game. Josh Thomas rose above everyone to score after 70 minutes, but parity was short-lived as Bradford struck almost immediately.
Downton went after a further equalizer but, despite the vast majority of the play, Charlie Aldridge coming up for a last minute free kick and another decent penalty appeal, the match ended with Bradford Town as victors and a surprise second defeat in four days for the Robins.
Horndean 5-1 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Fiveheads Park
The Ides of March proved to be a day of ill omen for Spurs as they were put to the sword by a quick, well-drilled Horndean side that was not at all flattered by the margin of victory.
The game started encouragingly with Fleet giving as good as they got in the opening exchanges. However, Horndean gradually began to dominate play, whilst creating very few clear-cut chances, and half-time came with no score.
After the break, Horndean continued to dominate, and took the lead after ten minutes. Ironically, their goal came from a Spurs free-kick well inside the Horndean half. Keeper Simon Howard caught the ball easily and kicked long down the right wing. Nathan Paxton latched on to the ball and held off the Fleet defence before slotting the ball past young keeper Dan Bailey. The floodgates now opened, and very soon Torr Spicer met a left-wing corner on the near post to head home clinically. The home side were using the slope cleverly, and another break down the right wing saw Spicer net from point-blank range. Spurs then got a goal back when the Horndean defence, which up till then had looked impenetrable, failed to clear a free-kick and Neil Yates forced the loose ball home. However, the home side came back quickly with two more goals. First, Kieran Arscott fouled Spicer in the box and Alex Miroy scored from the spot. Then Spicer completed his hat-trick with a powerful drive into the top corner. Horndean might have scored more, only a combination of good saves from Bailey and profligate finishing saving Spurs from further embarrassment.
SATURDAY 12th MARCH 2011
Alresford Town 2-2 Christchurch (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
Mike McEnery's double strike earned a point for Alresford at the end of a good, well-matched contest at Arlebury Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies lost Ben Stanbrook to injury in the warm-up, but Graham Bird, recovered from tonsillitis, stepped up to take his place and performed solidly in central defence alongside the ever-reliable Danny Edwards. Up front, Alresford fielded the blossoming little-and-large combination of Dan Strange and Mike McEnery, and with the visitors looking strangely lethargic, the home side dominated the first half.
The only goal of the 45 minutes came 13 minutes in from a channel ball on the left which McEnery took in his stride, beat his marker and chipped over advancing keeper Stewart Kearn. Alresford had chances to extend their lead, but Kearn saved well with his legs from Strange, who fired another good chance wide.
Christchurch played much better after the break, and a fascinating contest developed as Alresford's Simon Everett and Warren Bentley, and Christchurch's Mark Smith and Marc Fairbrother contested the right to boss the midfield. Chris Waller in the home goal had more to do than in the first half, but could do nothing to keep out Jon Grace's point-blank header from Smith's 71st-minute free-kick on the right.
Worse was to follow for the hosts on 80 minutes, when lively sub Paul Roberts put Christchurch 2-1 up with an excellent outside-of-the-foot shot from the edge of the box.
Alresford have made a habit of losing games like this, but this time they had a bit more in the tank. They pulled it back to 2-2 on 85 minutes when Mike Broughton ran on to James Eyles's pass down the right wing and crossed low. McEnery took the ball in his stride and swivelled to fire past Kearn with his second touch.
There was plenty of action at both ends in the closing stages - which included a nervy five minutes of added time - but no more goals, leaving both sides reasonably satisfied to have picked up a point.
Tadley Calleva 2-0 Pewsey Vale (Division One)
By JEFF MATTHEWS at Barlows Park
The Vale was to start the game more brightly within the first 10 minutes, they had two good chances to go into the early lead. Adam Field on 5 minute made a great run down the left but his shot was turned away for a corner. The perfect corner taken by Tom Ritchie found Joe Hornbogen in front of goal, only to see his effort cleared away by the home defence. Pewsey continued to put the pressure on their hosts when Ryan Banks shot went just wide. Against the run of play, Tadley broke the deadlock on the 33rd minute when Lee Chambers slotted home in the bottom left hand corner. Good goalkeeping by the Vale keeper Richard Payne, was to deny Dean Peltohaka pushing the ball onto the foot of the post just before the break. After the break the game at times became very scappy by both sides then Tadley had a free kick on 58 minutes, but Payne dived to his left to keep the ball out. Both sides had their chances, but Tadley went further ahead when Andy Ramsden found himself in space just inside the box and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
Whitchurch United 4-3 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Longmeadow
Another defeat for Spurs after a roller-coaster game at Longmeadow.
Spurs started off brightly, and soon took the lead through Sam Knowles, though the Church defence were to blame as they allowed a long through ball to bounce through leaving the striker to tap the ball into an empty net. Spurs continued to dominate and Tom Chillery hit the bar with a free kick. However, United began to get back into the game, and ten minutes before the break Paul Coventry scored from close range after Mark Appleby had only been able to parry a shot from home skipper Tom Pemberton. It was now Whitchurch's turn to dominate and they could easily have scored on a number of occasions as the ball went across the Spurs goalmouth without any attacker being able to get the finishing touch. Five minutes later It was very much against the run of the play when Knowles broke away again and forced the ball past Mindi Kutous at the second attempt for his thirty-sixth league goal of the season. Church had further opportunities to score, but the half ended with Fleet somewhat fortuitously ahead.
The second half started much as the first had with Spurs on top, and David Blake soon hit the post. However, Whitchurch soon regained the initiative, putting the rather ponderous Spurs defence under pressure and Matt Bennett scored with a fine shot into the top corner from outside the box after the defence failed to close him down. Worse was to come ten minutes later as Fleet gave the ball away carelessly on the half-way line and a quick break found Bennett clear to round Appleby and score easily. Quarter of an hour from the end, Spurs' defence again gave a United player too much room and time and this time it was Grant Powell who scored from outside the area. Kutous had to make a good save from sub Felix Laing's first touch of the game, and as the game entered stoppage time visiting skipper David Blake made it a nerve-wracking last few minutes for Whitchurch when he scored with a low shot that the keeper could only help into his own net.
WEDNESDAY 9th MARCH 2011
Fareham Town 2-1 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Cams Alders
Sean Dark's winner condemned the Magpies to a second consecutive defeat after a spirited encounter on Wednesday night at chilly Cams Alders. But the main talking point from the match was Alresford's "goal" that never was - an incident that changed the course of the match.
Both sides showed their attacking intent from the first whistle, but for a while there was more hustle and bustle than quality. All that changed, though, on 36 minutes, when Mike McEnery made a penetrating run into the Fareham defence, and pulled the ball back from the byeline. Dan Strange, making his first start after impressing as a sub at Blackfield on Saturday, was on hand at the far post to put Alresford ahead.
Fareham piled on the pressure after that, but the Alresford rearguard worked hard and behind them Chris Waller made a string of good saves. Then, on 68 minutes, came the match's key incident. McEnery again made ground on the right and crossed low, and Adie de la Nougerede and a defender between them bundled the ball into the Fareham net. But as the Magpies' celebrations began, the linesman raised his flag, and offside was given - apparently against McEnery earlier in the move.
That disrupted Alresford's concentration. Fareham went straight up the other end to equalise, Nathan Kirby applying the killer header to a right-wing cross.
After what had gone before there was a sense of the inevitable about Fareham's winner, a 74th-minute back-header from young sub Sean Dark from a long throw. It was another goal conceded from a set-piece, a problem that continues to bug the Magpies.
TUESDAY 8th MARCH 2011
Pewsey Vale 0-0 Downton (Division One)
By JEFF MATTHEWS at The Recreation Ground
Pewsey Vale put in a great team performance against top of the table Downton. The game was to go from end to end, during the whole 90 minutes, in a hard fought
encounter. The Vale was awarded the first of many free kicks that was to be given throughout the whole match. Downton's first stike on goal came on 6 minutes when Nic Turpin hit a powerfull shot just going over the Vale crossbar. A vital intervention between Vale defender Joe Hornbogen and goal keeper Richard Payne denied their visitors on 25 minutes. Downton made several attacks on the Vale defence but could not turn their chances into goals thanks to good defending and goalkeeping. Pewsey went down to ten men on the 25th minute following a foul just outside the goal area when Hornbogen brought down Dan Newman on the 36th minute. Vale keeper Payne made a dive to his left to make the great save. Going down to ten men spurred the Vale on and just before the break, Tom Ritchie sent in a perfect corner kick that found Ryan Banks in front of goal his header hit the cross bar. After the break, the ten man Vale side continued to fight for the ball and continually took the game to their visitors as the game continued to flow from end to end. Good Vale team work by the Vale's defence continued to deny Downton's advance on their goalmouth. Pewsey brought on Sam Mepham for the injured Danny Kilderry on the 80th minute as they continued to frustrate Downton with the Vale defence standing strong. Adam Field had a chance when he was surprised to get the ball but his effort on goal was saved by the visitors keeper Charles Aldridge. In the final minutes Pewsey had to do more strong defending to hold on to their share
of the points.
SATURDAY 5th MARCH 2011
AFC Portchester 0-3 Pewsey Vale (Division One)
By JEFF MATTHEWS at The Wicor Recreation Ground
This top of the table clash did not live up to expectations during the first half. Pewsey was to have the most possession, but was unable to turn this into
goals. The Vales Jon Guthrie had three good chances but needed that clinacle finish and the game went into the break all square. Portchester was to start the second have more brightly taking the game to the Vale. Pewsey broke the deadlock on 75 minutes,when great play by Guthrie who won the ball,and his cross into the goal area, was headed it at the near post by Ricky Franklin. O-1 Portchester went further behind when Matty Bissett headed in, the keeper saved but
Bissett knocked the ball back in the net 0-2 with minutes to go to the end of the match Guthrie finally made it three nil for the Vale with a solo run up the left
side,and from an accute angle hit the ball home. Pewsey now are joint 2nd place in the league table,along with todays hosts Porchester with 51 points and with Tuesday nights home fixture with top of the table Downton, the Vales hopes are high in getting a good result.
Blackfield & Langley 3-2 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Gang Warily Stadium
Defensive errors in the first half cost Alresford this match, and although the Magpies staged a rousing finale, it was all too little, too late.
Blackfield started the game the brighter, but Alresford weathered their early pressure and seemed to be getting a foothold in the game. However, on 17 minutes the hosts took the lead when centre-back Charlton Clarke was left unmarked to nod in a right-wing corner at the far post.
Worse was to follow for the visitors on 34 minutes. Neil Williams' low shot from outside the box seemed to pose little threat, and nine times out of ten Chris Waller would have saved it comfortably. But this time the ball squirmed through his arms to nestle in the far corner of the net.
In the second half Alresford replaced the ailing Danny Edwards with Melvin Rogers, making his first-team comeback after nearly a year out following a road accident. The Magpies showed a distinct improvement, but caused home keeper Jamie Bray few problems.
A third goal on 85 minutes seemed to put the result beyond doubt. Lively sub Josh Warren, who asked Alresford all sorts of questions, saw his initial shot saved in a one-on-one with Waller. But the keeper brought him down as he attempted to retrieve the loose ball, and Warren stroked home the resultant penalty to make it 3-0.
Alresford kept plugging away, and were rewarded on 88 minutes when Tom Donaldson headed home Mike Broughton's cross to drag it back to 3-1. Then, with the game entering added time, sub Dan Strange unleashed a curling rocket of a shot from the edge of the box that smashed into the net, leaving Bray helpless. But there was no time left for further heroics, and the Magpies were left to rue the defensive shortcomings that had already cost them the points.
Fleet Spurs 2-8 Horndean (Division One)
By PAUL HAMPSHIRE at Kennels Lane
Clearly the lowest moment of Spurs season saw them convincingly thumped by an in form Horndean side. Spurs who were fielding 3 youth team debutants and 2 other players who had not played this season looked rather disjointed from the start and when the defence stood still after only 5 minutes Horndean took the lead. Spurs then enjoyed much of the attacking possession and threatened occasionally but consistent long balls in to the Horndean defence produced few chances. Then later in the half both managers were removed from the dug out for what can be described as nothing more than enthusiasm Spurs were left with no one to guide the side and just 3 young subs. As is so often the case a second goal was conceded against the run of play just before the break sending Horndean in 2-0 in the lead. The second half was a different affair with Horndean dominating and Spurs young side collapsing and four quick goals taking advantage of some awful defending. The game then opened up with end to end chances and as Horndean looked for more they left gaps at the back and newcomer Benjamin Martschin got one back for Spurs. Horndean made it 7 then Felix Lainge scored for Spurs before Horndean completed the humiliation adding an 8th. To be fair the score could easily have been 10-5 but Spurs know that they will need to see some of their senior players return if they are to provide any kind of opposition for Fareham on Monday in the Russel Cotes cup. The frustrations of the home side were clear for all to see and clearly now is a time for Spurs to simply look to build for next season .
TUESDAY 1st MARCH 2011
Alton Town 2-3 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at The Bass Sports
After a sluggish start Alresford picked up their second win in the space of four days thanks to two goals from Mike McEnery and one from Ben Stanbrook.
Just as in the previous meeting between these two sides - which was abandoned at half-time due to fog with Alton 1-0 up - Alton were in charge at first, with high-tempo, committed football, and were particularly dangerous at set-pieces. They opened the scoring on 7 minutes when Ben White applied a thumping header to Carl Saunders' left-wing corner.
Alresford were struggling to get a foothold in the match, but gradually hauled themselves back into it and stunned their hosts with a 41st-minute equaliser. Bustling striker McEnery was the scorer, latching onto Tom Donaldson's deft pass and slotting the ball underneath keeper Craig Atkinson.
After the break Alresford had marginally the better of an entertaining contest, but there were few chances. The game exploded into life, however, on 85 minutes when a James Eyles cross found its way through the home defence onto the head of Stanbrook, who scored his first senior goal for the club since graduating from the youth set-up.
A minute later McEnery broke through the offside trap, beat Atkinson and slid the ball into an empty net to make it 3-1. But the Magpies still had to endure a nervy spell of added time when Tom Walsh's 91st minute shot found the back of the Alresford net after clipping the goalpost.
SATURDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2011
Alresford Town 3-2 Hamworthy United (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
Alresford secured their first League victory since November 20th with this win over high-flying Hamworthy. However, they did their best to put their supporters through the wringer after surrendering a 2-0 lead midway through the second half!
The first 30 minutes of the game were played generally between the two penalty areas with neither side being able to penetrate. Alresford's Tom Donaldson had a strike over the bar on the half-hour mark but at the other end Chris Waller had to tip a shot over the bar just 2 minutes later from Hamworthy's Luke Burbidge.
On 44 minutes Alresford did open the scoring after good work by Ben Stanbrook. Scott Waters' header found Warren Bentley 6 yards out, and he slotted into the corner of the goal. Fifteen minutes into the second half Bentley doubled the Magpies' lead following a similar move to the first.
But the visitors reduced the arrears when George Webb, unmarked at the far post, converted a Burbidge cross on 64 minutes. Nine minutes later it looked like Alresford were to be denied their just reward when Webb equalised, converting another Burbidge cross from close range.
Alresford brought on sub Mike McEnery in the 77th minute, and on 85 minutes his good work bore fruit when a cross was deflected off the chest of Hamworthy's Dan Haysom into the bottom corner. That put the home side back in the driving seat, and they duly hung on to record a desperately-needed victory.
Cowes Sports 3-2 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Westwood Park
In a thrilling match at Cowes, Spurs looked likely winners until inspired substitutions allowed the home side to turn the game round with two late goals.
The first half was evenly fought with both sides trying to play passing football and the half-time whistle came with neither side having created many chances, though Sports were unlucky just before the break when Dominic Burbidge hit the post after outpacing the Fleet defence, but the forward who netted the rebound was ruled offside. Overall, however, Spurs had probably just shaded the possession and equality at half-time was fair.
Spurs began to get on top after the break and soon took the lead when the home side gave the ball away and David Pitt ran through to hit the base off the post. However Spurs were luckier than Cowes had been earlier as Sam Knowles was onside as he tapped the rebound soon. Five minutes later, Sports equalised when Sam Yelland headed powerfully home after the Fleet defence had failed to clear a free kick from the right. Just after the hour mark Felix Laing came on from the bench, and was almost immediately brought down in the area. Knowles shot low and hard to Christopher Norris' right from the spot giving the home keeper no chance. Cowes brought on all their substitutes and three minutes from the end of normal time, Michael Jones scored from close range after Spurs had dallied on the ball. As the game entered stoppage time, Alex Harvey was the second sub to score in three minutes as he prodded the ball home from close range after more slack Fleet defending. Spurs were understandably disappointed to lose the game to two such late goals, but must learn to concentrate for the full ninety-plus minutes rather than just eighty-seven.
Pewsey Vale 3-0 East Cowes Vics (Division One)
By JEFF MATTHEWS at The Recreation Ground
This was a game of two halfs and as the game was to go end to end. Pewsey were guilty of losing the ball in the midfield leaving their back four to clear away any danger. Defender David had to make a telling clearance on the 7th minute and then Cowes had a good chance,but Joe Tigwell shot well over on the 22nd minute. On the 42nd minute a free kick for the Vale was cleared away by a visiting defender, only went to Micky Martin,but he was denied by a great save from goalkeeper Shane East. Following the half time break, Pewsey broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half, when Danny Kilderry made a run down the right flank, but lost the ball on the run towards goal, the ball that was cleared only to the Vales Jon Guthrie, who scored with a cracking 30 yard short. Ryan Banks doubled the score on the hour,from a free kick that saw Banks fire home a low hard shot that the defence was unable to clear off the goal line. Cowes looked to get back in the game, but the home keeper Richard Payne made a telling
save and denied Adam Sunburg on 65 minutes. Both sides made team changes as the match was to go into the final 25 minutes of the match, but, Pewsey put the game out of reach of their visitors, when a Haydn Amor corner, found Guthrie to rise high to head home his second goal of the match on 85 minutes. Guthrie was the provider in the final minute, with a cross into the far post, but Matty Bissett was unable to put in.
TUESDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2011
Moneyfields 1-0 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Moneyfields Sports Ground
Dan Gauntlett's first-half power-drive decided this contest on a sticky pitch on a damp Tuesday night. It was a seventh consecutive defeat for an Alresford side who last won in November and have found themselves sucked into the relegation dogfight at the foot of the table.
There was little to choose between the two sides throughout. In the early stages Alresford looked the brighter, Dean Cole, Scott Waters and Tom Donaldson having good chances to put the Magpies ahead, but no-one could make the most of the opportunities that came their way.
The goal, on 36 minutes, was a bolt from the blue. There seemed to be little danger as Gauntlett picked up possession on the left and cut in. But his shot, from outside the box, seemed to take a slight deflection and flew into the top right corner of the visitors' net.
Moneyfields improved after that, and during the second half held the upper hand territorially. Alresford continued to work hard, but found chances hard to come by. The closest they came was a Waters header that David Hook tipped spectacularly to safety.
The Magpies piled on the pressure in the closing stages, but couldn't find a way through, and when the final whistle blew they were left wondering where on earth their next win is going to come from.
Ringwood Town 0-1 Stockbridge (Division One)
By IAN CLAXTON at Long Lane
Ringwood's topsy-turvy form this season took another twist as the same starting eleven who destroyed high flying US Portsmouth just three days ago lost by a single goal to second from bottom Stockbridge in a wholly uninspiring match. The only goal came from the spot on 22 minutes after Ringwood's keeper Jon Page was sent off for a 50/50 challenge on Steve Witt who had beaten the offside trap and was one-on-one with the keeper as they both chased down the loose ball. The referee adjudged a clear scoring opportunity to have been denied and so Page had to go, but if an assessor had not been watching his every move, would he have seen it differently?. Who knows. However, Witt made no mistake from the penalty spot to beat stand-in keeper, Sean Leadbetter and that was to be the deciding moment. Ringwood had by this time been denied a score by the woodwork and Page had pulled off a fine save to push a 20 yards drive around the post to keep the visitors scoreless from open play. But there were few further shots to worry either keeper for the rest of the game which grew increasingly frustrating for players and spectators alike, born out by the fact that when the odd goalscoring opportunity finally presented itself the result was a blazed shot well over the bar. Stockbridge seemed content tom hold onto their lead and made no use of their man advantage Ringwood couldn't raise their game after a poor start .
SATURDAY 19th FEBRUARY 2011
Amesbury Town 3-1 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Bonnymead Park
This was a strange game that Spurs presented to Amesbury with a number of elementary errors.
The game started quietly, but after ten minutes the Blues took the lead when towering defender Neil Sole was left unmarked at the far post and nodded the ball in. Young debutant goalkeeper Ryan Bone managed to get a hand to the ball, but couldn't stop it squirming over the line. There followed a long spell of rather dreary football with neither side able to keep the ball and construct any real chances. As half-time approached, Fleet began to get on top but a mixture of poor finishing, resolute defence by Amesbury and a touch of luck kept the home goal intact. The inevitable consequence of Spurs' profligacy was that Amesbury broke away in the last minute of the half and scored when a defender Adam Moore deflected a low right-wing cross against the far post and into the net.
Spurs started off the second half with some good passing play and dominated possession They couldn't convert this into goals, though on a number of occasions the ball passed across the home goal without a Spurs forward being able to get a finishing touch. After an hour, home keeper Danny Harrison took offence at a challenge by David Pitt and both players were shown a yellow card after a brief tussle. Pitt unwisely continued to press his point and the referee had no alternative to giving him a second yellow card and dismissing him. Play continued to be end-to-end with Spurs holding their own, but ten minutes from the end another own goal resulted from a right-wing cross, skipper Dan Sleet on this occasion deflecting the ball powerfully past the helpless Bone. Five minutes from the end, sub Felix Laing caught Harrison off his line to reduce the arrears with a high shot. The game finished with victory that Amesbury deserved, if only because they made fewer silly errors than Spurs.
Pewsey Vale 3-2 Hythe & Dibden (Division One)
By JEFF MATTHEWS at The Recreation Ground
Pewsey Vale had to work hard for their win over mid table Hythe. The first half was to go from end to end,with both sides having thier
chances to take the the lead. On the 6 minute, Vale keeper Richard Payne was to deny the visitors when he rose up high to claim the ball from a well taken free kick, the 30th minute, a great run out from the Vale' half by Matty Bissett, but he was denied by the visitors keeper Matt Willshire. Another great save by Payne,tipping over, denied Hythe, following a free kick by Martin Harris. The deadlock was broke on the on 42 minutes, shortly before the interval when Micky Martin shot was slightly deflected by the keeper Willshire for the Vale to go into the break in the lead. The Vale was to keep up the pressure on their visitors from the restart but following a period of scappy play,the visitors hit back to equalise, midway through the second half,when an effort from Sean Stone went in off the the post. Hythe went into the lead, when a centre by Mills, went in with a little help from the keeper. Pewsey drew back level on the 80th minute, good work from Ricky Franklin, set up Martin for his second goal of the match. This spurred the Vale on, and they brought on substitute Jack Hopper, who was to get the winner for Pewsey, with a great strike, giving the keeper no chance.
TUESDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2011
Alresford Town 1-3 Bemerton Heath Harlequins (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
The Magpies did well to hold Harlequins to level pegging for 85 minutes of this Tuesday night clash at Arlebury Park - the only snag was that they were already two goals down by then!
Alresford recalled Mike Rayner, Scott Waters, Dean Cole and Tom Donaldson to their starting eleven, and on paper at least looked a stronger side than that which had lost to Bournemouth Poppies on Saturday. In the event central defender Rayner only lasted ten minutes before another knock forced him off. Replacement John Borg settled down quickly, though, and looked comfortable at the back on his first Sydenhams Wessex outing.
The damage had been done in the first few minutes. Bemerton took the lead in their first attack with just two minutes on the clock, Michael Pratt capitalising on a series of fifty-fifty balls that fell in his side's favour by rifling home from the six-yard line.
Graham Mankin ghosted unmarked in to add a second from a set-piece four minutes later, and already the Magpies had a mountain to climb. But they responded well, Dean Cole rattling the post with a rasping shot from an acute angle and then seeing his shot from a corner bravely blocked.
For most of the rest of the evening the game settled down to a pattern of end-to-end football with some committed challenges and good passing - in short, a good advert for the League. Bemerton had marginally the better of the possession and chances, but had to wait until 70 minutes to get a third goal. Then, Pratt netted from close range for his second of the evening.
Alresford struck back straight away, Joe Wright bundling in a corner at the near post to give the Magpies only their fifth goal since November. The hosts, with subs Mike McEnery and Dan Strange making positive contributions, put on plenty of pressure in the last quarter of the game. Their hopes seemed to be rewarded when Bemerton keeper Stuart Parsons made a poor clearance to Strange, who drove the ball past the stranded keeper and into the net from 40 yards. But the linesman raised his flag, the home fans were baffled as the ‘goal' was ruled out, and Harlequins breathed a sigh of relief.
MONDAY 7th FEBRUARY 2011
Havant & Waterlooville 0-1 Winchester City (Hampshire Senior Cup)
By GRANT PAYNE at Westleigh Park
Wessex Premier League leaders Winchester City produced a Hampshire Senior Cup giant-killing as Leigh Mills's second half strike sent them into the semi-final at the expense of Havant & Waterlooville. After withstanding pressure from the Hawks, Mills took advantage of Danny Reeves's goal-wards strike to fire a deflected effort that found the corner from 12 yards. It was the only real chance that Winchester created in the match and it was only thanks to an outstanding defensive display that the visitors were able to progress. Time and time again goal-hero Mills, Ussman Adeniji and a world class save from goalkeeper Rory Anderson kept the hosts at bay to record the memorable victory. The closest the visitors came to grabbing an equaliser was in the dying seconds as Mustafa Tiryaki's header cannoned back off the bar. Before kick off there was three leagues and 57 places between the two teams but with City on an eight game unbeaten run there was a sense in the air that the visitors could cause an upset. The opening stages resembled a game of chess and it took 16 minutes for the first real chance of the game and it arrived for the hosts. A long ball sent Joe Keehan clear of the defence but the striker snatched at the chance and fired over when he should have done better. It took all of half an hour for City to have a chance of their own with Danny Reeves setting Michael Dixon away but he could only fire straight at Nathan Ashmore who showed safe hands. From then on Winchester showed more attacking desire and centre back Ussman Adeniji drew applause from home and away fans alike with his ambitious effort before the break. A long ball was cleared by the Hawks defence shich fell to Adeniji who controlled brilliantly before slamming a dipping volley that dropped just over. The half time whistle went with City manager Guy Butters having every right to feel pleased with his sides first half display. Havant and Waterlooville stormed out of the blocks after the interval and would have wondered how they was not ahead. First, a deep cross saw Mustafa Tiryaki find himself in space but snatched at the chance from inside the box, dragging his effort wide. And it was the same player two minutes later who has his head in his hands. Wes Fogden using strength and pace to get away down the right before pulling back to Tiryaki who had the goal at his mercy but somehow put his effort just wide with Anderson stranded. With only a quarter of the match remaining it was the defensive line that came to City's rescue. Rory Anderson pulled off a fantastic save to deny Fogden from his snap shot before Adeniji flung himself in front of Keehan's effort. Winchester began to kill the game and had an opening of their own when Adeniji, who seemed to be everywhere on the pitch, slammed in a shot on the angle that found the outside of the post. And with just over 10 minutes to go City made the breakthrough that turned out to be the winning goal. Glasspool's corner was cleared and fell to Danny Reeves whose shot pinged around the Hawks area before Leigh Mills showed a cool head, slotting home on the slide into the far corner via a deflection. Cue jubilation on and off the pitch as the Cup upset was on. City began to sit back and invite pressure from the hosts and they nearly buckled in the last few minutes. Anderson pulling off the save of the match and Adeniji again putting his body on the line to deny an effort at goal once more. And three minutes into stoppage time the hosts got the chance they was waiting for. Substitute Manny Williams did brilliant to get away down the left before delivering a super cross right onto Tiryaki's head but the big striker, who had no luck all game, saw his headed effort cannon off the bar and away to safety. The final whistle saw signs of jubilation with manager Guy Butters and owner Paul McCarthy punching the air in delight. This historic results sees City progress to the semi-final and it is only a home tie with Hampshire Senior Cup holders AFC Totton standing in the way of them reaching the final at Bournemouth's Dean Court.
SATURDAY 5th FEBRUARY 2011
Alresford Town 0-3 Bournemouth Poppies (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
Alresford continued their slide towards the relegation zone with this convincing defeat against top-six opponents Poppies.
After the abandonment of the midweek game at Alton due to fog, the Magpies were pleased to welcome back right-back James Eyles following a long spell out through injury. Further forward Warren Bentley, back from University, replaced the unavailable Tom Donaldson but there was no place in the starting line-up for 17-goal top scorer Dean Cole.
The game started at a curiously cautious tempo, neither side mustering a shot on goal in the opening twenty minutes. With a strong wind at their backs Alresford struggled to control their passes, and while Poppies also threatened little during the opening period they did at least look as if they had the capacity to move up through the gears.
Alresford's frailty at set-pieces has often cost them dear of late, and that was certainly true in the 22nd minute when Poppies took the lead. Jon Blake was the scorer, rising unchallenged six yards out to head home a corner from the right wing.
Alresford sparked briefly into life with an Eyles free-kick that had the power to break through the Bournemouth defensive wall, but visiting keeper Jason Harvell was perfectly placed to gather the ball. Eyles, Mike Broughton and Bentley then all had shots on goal, but Poppies looked likely to add to their tally on 43 minutes when Jake Rowley bore down on goal only to be denied by a superbly-timed Danny Edwards tackle.
Alresford made a bright start to the second half, Simon Rogers getting on the end of an Ash Ledger cross but failing to get his header on target. Alresford brought Cole off the bench to boost their attacking options, but Poppies still looked dangerous, Ollie Phillipson-Masters chasing crosses into the home box but failing to trouble Chris Waller between the posts.
Poppies doubled their lead on 66 minutes from a neat move started by Lucas Pickett's quick pass to John Wyatt, advancing on the right. Waller did well to save Wyatt's shot, but the rebound fell kindly for Rowley to stroke home.
Alresford continued to huff and puff, but rarely looked like opening their account. They brought on two more subs, both making thier debuts; first midfielder Andy Tingle, a recent acquisition from Hungerford Town, and then defender Seb Allen, a Hampshire Under-18 Cup winner with Alresford last season who was stepping up to Sydenhams Wessex Premier level for the first time.
On 86 minutes, however, Poppies underlined their superiority with a third goal. Pickett's lobbed cross from the left caught Waller and his defenders in a tangle, and visiting sub Matt Kemble hooked the ball home from an acute angle to put the gloss on a match that was, from Bournemouth's point of view, more than satisfactory.
Petersfield Town 0-2 Amesbury Town (Division One)
By MARK HILTON at Love Lane
Amesbury made it four wins out of five matches since Christmas with a 2-0 win at a blustery Petersfield. Amesbury started strongly when Danny Finnigan headed wide following a cross from the left . A minute later Finnigan's goalbound shot was deflected for a corner. Amesbury took the lead on the quarter hour after good work by Ben Pulling and Gareth Horner found Finnigan who looped the ball over home keeper Andrew Stass. Amesbury continued to pressure the hosts and on 22 minutes a ball forward found Toni Camilleri whose clever play made room for a shot but his effort went wide. Three minutes later Nathan Jones and Toni Camilleri combined to create a chance for Finnigan. His shot was blocked and Ben Pulling's follow up was saved at a stretch by Stass. Amesbury had one further chance 4 minutes before half time when Danny Finnigan got clear but shot wide. On the stroke of half time Petersfield had their first chance when a corner resulted in a goal line clearance from Gareth Horner. In the 2nd half Amesbury played with the slope but, as expected, Petersfield upped their game with the impressive Luke Bishop becoming more influential. A Nathan Jones corner found Neil Sole who headed wide for Amesbury a minute into the half but then Petersfield had a spell of possession. On 52 minutes a run on the right by Jack James but he shot into the side netting. On 67 minutes Petersfield forced a couple of corners which ended when Mike Newman shot wide. Amesbury were looking solid at the back with centre back pairing, Ben Pryce and Neil Sole, doing well to block attacks by the home side and with Gareth Horner and Craig Wheeler as full backs adding to an experienced back line Danny Harrison was rarely troubled in the Amesbury goal. Amesbury came back at Petersfield and in midfield, Tom Western fed Finnigan who tried to lob the keeper from 20 yards only to see his effort clip the crossbar. A minute later Danny Harrison's long punt with the wind found Finnigan on the 6 yard box but the ball got caught under his feet as he took it round the keeper and the ball was scrambled away for a corner. Four minutes later Jones shot from distance and his effort whistled past the post. The home side only managed one more effort a header that hit the bar following a free kick. A minute later Amesbury sealed the win when a Harrison goal kick found Finnigan well ahead of the defence who had pushed up too far. Finnigan was able to lob the keeper from 20 yards to make it 2-0 and score his 16th goal of the season. Amesbury had one more effort when substitute Luke Scott found space but shot wide. This was a very good performance from Amesbury in difficult conditions and on a difficult surface.
Pewsey Vale 4-1 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at The Recreation Ground
Another disappointing performance and result for Spurs with all four Pewsey goals resulting from sloppy defending. However, Vale were the better side and thoroughly deserved their victory.
Fleet couldn't have started much worse. A couple of minutes into the game a good low cross from the right by Adam Field following an excellent run found two Pewsey players unmarked in front of goal and Jon Guthrie scored easily from six yards out. The game was open, with attacks by both teams spelling danger for the opposing defence. Spurs' young striker David Pitt was causing the Vale defence all sorts of problems and eventually Fleet gained their reward when after twenty-five minutes he was tripped in the box and Sam Knowles made no mistake from the spot to equalise. Over the half, possession was fairly equal, though Pewsey's attacks always carried more menace. After thirty minutes Michael Martin got the last touch to a curling free-kick from Tom Ritchie and diverted the ball just under the bar and inside the far post. Worse was to come as five minutes later the Spurs defence and keeper left a long throw to each other and Ricky Franklin got the final touch, the ball rolling almost apologetically over the line.
The game was much tighter after the break with Pewsey happy to contain Fleet, while still looking the more dangerous side as they hit Spurs on the break. Ten minutes from the end, an inswinging right-wing corner found its way over Appleby at the near post and Jon Guthrie notched his second from close range.
FROM THE OTHER SIDE:
Pewsey Vale 4-1 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JEFF MATTHEWS at The Recreation Ground
An outstanding Pewsey Vale performance saw them overcome a strong Fleet side. Pewsey took the early lead on three minutes after Freddy Loosmore won the ball on the right flank and sent Adam Field away. His cross was tucked away by Jon Guthrie. As the Vale pushed forward to increase their scoreline,The visitors keeper,Mark Appleby
denied Ricky Franklin. Then at the other end Pewsey goalstopper Richard Payne was to deny striker David Pitt.
on the 10th minute. Fleet drew back level after 23 minutes,when they were given a penalty,that was converted
by Sam Knowles. But Pewsey went back into the lead,when a free kick by Tom Ritchie,beat the keeper after
29 minutes. Franklin put the vale three up on 34 minutes when he ghosted in to tuck the ball in the net at the near post from a Ritchie long throw,to go into the break in a commanding lead. From the restart after the break,the game became very scappy with many silly fouls from both sides. Pewsey brought on Danny Horwood and Sam Mepham on the 76th minute,Pewsey but had to wait until the 82nd minute for their fourth goal,when in a goalmouth scamble was finnally put
in by Danny Horwood.
TUESDAY 1st FEBRUARY 2011
Alton Town A-A Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at The Bass Sports Ground
Thick fog at Anstey Road caused the abandonment of this game at half-time with the hosts 1-0 up. Alton had piled on the pressure from the outset, and took the lead on 30 minutes from a corner which was scrambled home at the far post by Conor Geoghegan.
Alresford came closest through Tom Donaldson, who volleyed over the bar after home keeper Craig Atkinson had failed to gather an Ash Ledger cross.
Alton were in the driving seat, but the thick fog which descended during the first period caused first the extension of the half-time interval and then, after several pitch inspections, the eventual abandonment of the game without resumption.
Tadley Calleva 1-4 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Fellows Park
Although Spurs weren't at their best on Tuesday night, this performance was chalk and cheese compared to their embarrassing capitulation against Verwood on Saturday.
The game started brightly and after ten minutes an excellent through ball from Grant Nesbitt set Sam Knowles free and the striker scored with a powerful drive. Five minutes later, Dean Peltohaka celebrated his first start for Tadley by equalising with a thunderous left-foot drive from the edge of the box that rocketed in off the underside of the bar - an unstoppable shot. There were chances at both ends, until five minutes before half-time Knowles restored Fleet's lead with an accurate shot into the corner from the best part of thirty yards following some intricate build-up play in midfield. The sides turned round with Spurs perhaps slightly flattered by their lead.
After the break, Fleet were the more dangerous team but were unable to put away any of their creating goal chances while generally containing the Tadley attacks without too much difficulty. It looked as if the game was going to peter out at 2-1, but two minutes from the end, as the fog closed in, David Blake scored his first goal for the club with a powerful drive. In the last minute, Knowles hammered the ball into the Tadley net after running through from the half-way line (or at least that's what he told me afterwards). This was his thirtieth league goal of the season, a tally that puts him ten goals ahead of his nearest Division 1 rival, Ben Dillon of Tadley.
SATURDAY 29th JANUARY 2011
Amesbury Town 1-2 AFC Portchester (Divison One)
By MARK HILTON at Bonnymead Park
Amesbury looked to have secured a decent point at home to 2nd place AFC Portchester but after defending hard for the 2nd half they were undone with a last minute winner from Jay Ripiner.
Ripiner had scored in the third minute when he slotted home a cross from Simon Woods after Danny Harrison had got caught out of positon. Amesbury hit back with Ben Pulling running at the visitors defence and his low shot was straight at the keeper. It wasn't long before the Blues were level. On 9 minutes a Gareth Horner free kick on the edge of the box found Neil Sole who powerfully headed home.
Amesbury had further chances to go ahead when on the quarter hour Craig Wheeler's corner again found Neil Sole who this time saw his headed pushed onto the bar by keeper Watson. A minute later Pryce hit the post again exposing AFC Portchester's weakness defending set pieces.
On 26 minutes a defensive error in the home side saw the ball break to Woods who hit the outside of the post from an acute angle. On the half hour another corner from Amesbury found Neil Sole on the edge of the box and the versatile defender tried an overhead kick which was gathered by the keeper. This was followed by another shot wide by Ben Pulling. The final chance of the first half saw Portchester's Jake Daniels fail to trouble home keeper Harrison.
The 2nd half saw AFC Portchester have the better of the game with Jake Daniels missing a few chances but finding Harrison equal to anything he could muster. It wasn't until the 73rd minute that Amesbury created another chance when another Craig Wheeler corner found substitute Mark Johnson who headed powerfully only to see his effort pushed onto the bar by Watson and then cleared.
There was one more chance for Daniels which went wide before the sucker punch came in injury time when Ripiner stabbed home after the home defence failed to clear.
Brockenhurst 2-1 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By KEITH CURTIS at Grigg Lane
A game in which play flowed from end to end throughout and chances were created by both teams was eventually decided by a penalty.
The first half saw scoring opportunities aplenty but no goals as both sides were denied by good goalkeeping, some wayward shooting and, at times, desperate defending. Alresford had to substitute Ben Stanbrook after 32 minutes after he had got in the way of a fiercely hit volley by Brock's Paul Gazzard from the edge of the box. Feeling the effects of the blow to the head, he was replaced by Mike Broughton.
Four minutes into the second half Brockenhurst broke the deadlock when an initial shot by Justin Keeler was parried by Chris Waller in the visitors' goal, and Richard Morse pounced on the loose ball to finish from close range.
Further chances followed for both sides, and Alresford secured the equaliser through a Tom Donaldson shot from 18 yards after 73 minutes.
The decisive goal, though, came from the spot. Five minutes from time Simon Rogers, who was on as a sub for James Davis, fouled Dave Wakefield, and Wakefield picked himself up off the floor to convert the penalty.
Alresford fought on, but there was too little time left for the visitors to restore parity. The Magpies now face Alton Town (Tues Feb 1), Bournemouth Poppies and Bemerton Heath Harlequins in their next three games in an increasingly desperate bid to stop sliding down the table.
Fleet Spurs 2-7 Verwood Town (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Kennels Lane
Following their good midweek cup victory against Cove, Spurs may have felt confident of a good result against Verwood, whom they had beaten 4-1 earlier in the season. If they did, their confidence was misplaced, as they were well beaten by a far better side on the day. If a 7-2 scoreline looks like a hammering, it's not misleading. It was.
After a lively start with both sides trying to play constructive passing football, Verwood began to get on top, and it was against the run of the play that Spurs scored, when after quarter of an hour David Pitt timed his through ball to Sam Knowles perfectly and the big striker passed the ball into the corner of the net for his twenty-seventh league goal of the season. Five minutes later, Fleet failed to clear a corner - not for the last time - and striker Mike Haskell forced the ball home from close range following an almighty melee. Haskell's second goal was much cleaner - a powerful far-post header - but the Spurs defence was equally culpable as they failed to defend a corner. Two minutes before the break, it was that man Haskell again, tormenting the home defence before sending in a fine low cross that fellow-striker Bradley Aspin smashed home from point-blank range.
The half-time score was a fair reflection of the play, and things became worse ... and worse ... and worse for Spurs in the second half. Ten minutes after the break, atrocious defence allowed Russell Dyer to draw the keeper and cross the ball to Sam Lanahan, who couldn't miss from two foot six inches out. On the hour mark, Fleet were caught one against four at the back after a quick break by Town and Haskell completed his hat-trick, chipping Appleby. Ten minutes from the end, centre-back Chris Lynch headed home a right-wing corner - the third goal of the game that Spurs conceded from corners - and a minute later the Spurs defence was again in disarray as John Webb was left unmarked to score Verwood's seventh. In stoppage time Grant Nesbitt scored, but that was very little consolation to Fleet.
TUESDAY 25th JANUARY 2011
Alresford Town 0-2 Poole Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
The Magpies recovered a large chunk of pride despite slipping to defeat against title-chasing Poole at Arlebury Park on a damp Tuesday evening.
Anxious to put their recent heavy defeat at the hands of Laverstock behind them, Alresford battled hard throughout. However, they had a nasty scare in the first minute when Dave Sturgess appeared to be brought down in their penalty area. Ref Josh Norton rejected Poole's penalty appeals, but accidentally blocked Alresford's attempt to clear and the ball fell perfectly for Dan Cann to test Chris Waller in the home goal with a powerful shot.
As the half progressed, Poole had the bulk of the play but Alresford were better than of late and looked incisive on the break with Tom Donaldson in a new role playing off of front-man Dean Cole. Cole and Donaldson set up Scott Waters for a volley that flew just wide, and Waters was then prominent at the other end, heading off the line after Waller had slipped and failed to cut out a ball aimed at the far post.
On 40 minutes Poole centre-back Michael Walker got a thumping header on target, but Waller made a spectacular flying save to keep the scoreline blank.
The half-time break did Alresford no favours. They hadn't settled at the start of the second half when Kevin Gill advanced on the right and fired in a shot that Waller found too hot to handle. Cann was on hand to slot home the loose ball and put the Dolphins ahead.
There was controversy on 57 minutes when Simon Everett swivelled to fire the ball into the bottom corner of the Poole net. But with the Magpies players and supporters celebrating the ‘equaliser', the referee noticed his assistant's flag and, after consultation, awarded the visitors a free-kick instead.
Eyebrows were raised again shortly afterwards when Mr Norton showed Poole's Micky Hubbard the red card, apparently for off-the-ball comments, only to realise that he'd got the wrong card out - and replaced it with a yellow!
Those two incidents seemed to take the wind out of Alresford's sails and Poole looked more comfortable thereafter. They put the seal on the result by doubling their lead on 82 minutes, Lamin Dibba rising majestically to nod home a free-kick from the right at the far post.
The introduction of Magpies sub Tom Riddell livened up the proceedings, the speedy Alresford man keeping the Poole defence on their toes. But the Dolphins had the last word when, in injury time, Cann headed the ball on for Poole sub Tom Jeffes to fire over the bar.
It was a much-improved showing from Alresford, with midfielders Everett and Adie de la Nougerede and defenders James Davis, Danny Edwards and Mike Rayner the pick of the bunch. Mention should be made, too, of Ben Stanbrook and Ash Ledger, who both did well in unaccustomed wide defensive positions.
SATURDAY 22nd JANUARY 2011
Hythe & Dibden 1-3 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Ewart Recreation Ground
This was a game that Spurs might have - probably should have - won comfortably, but where they eventually had to struggle to overcome the gallant ten men of Hythe.
Fleet immediately took command, but squandered a number of good chances. However, they took the lead after half an hour when David Pitt dribbled through the home defence and hammered the ball in from an acute angle. Spurs were making inroads into the Hythe defence when they kept the ball on the ground, but all too often they foundered when they attempted route 1 football. This was illustrated when five minutes before half-time Tom Chillery collected the ball after a slick right-wing move and sent a left-foot curler past the helpless Matt Willsher into the far corner of the net. As the half drew to a close, the referee dismissed home defender Tom Evans after an off-the-ball incident.
After the break, Spurs' performance immediately dipped, and it was a surprise when in the forty-ninth minute, sub Felix Lainge scored from close range after the Hythe defence had failed to cut out a low cross from Chillery. Maybe Fleet thought that the game was now theirs for the taking without much effort as complacency appeared to set in at the same time as Hythe raised their performance. Twenty minutes from the end, home skipper Sam Carter ran on to a through ball and outpaced the Spurs defence before beating Mark Appleby with a well-placed low shot. Hythe were having more of the play, and Fleet needed a number of desperate clearances to avoid conceding further. The visitors did have a number of chances on the break, but keeper Willsher proved equal to them all.
Romsey Town 5-3 Laverstock & Ford (Premier Division)
By CAMERON MELLING at The Bypass Ground
A fantastic game at the Bypass Ground as it finished 5-3 to Romsey. A frantic first 20 minutes saw 5 goals and a further 3 goals were added in the second half.
Both teams had came great midweek wins and optimism was high. Romsey called up Ben Andrews from the reserves to fill in for injured Gareth Bacthelor at centre back and Jake Long was available despite his dismissal in midweek.
The game began we the usual flurry of long balls until one of these balls found Ryan Long but he was forced wide by good defending only to be chip the ball back in for an on fire Simon De'ath to flick the ball in after 9 minutes. A wonderful header which landed in the bottom right hand corner of the goal.
Just 4 minutes later Romsey doubled their lead thanks to another terrific header from De'ath. An incredible ball from full back Ashley Johnson on the halfway line found De'ath who headed expertly across goal to find the same corner he had found moments earlier.
However, no sooner as the ball was back on the centre spot Laverstock pulled one back. A cross in from the right was poorly cleared allowing the Laverstock midfielder to volley home from the edge of the area.
But there wasn't a chance to rest for Laverstock 2 minutes later Romsey restored their two goal lead. Johnson who set up the first goal picked up the on the right galloped forward before smashing a thunderous drive from 30 yards in which the keeper had no chance. This was turning into a cracking game already. But it got better.
From the same side as Johnson's screamer Laverstock broke and the winger fired a ball into box which the Laavy striker met and rifled home. There were suspicions of offside and it was hard to believe he had so much space to fire home. We had now got 5 goals in 20 minutes an average of a goal every 4 minutes!
However, we had to wait another 43 minutes for another goal but we got two. Romsey centre back Richard Hayter heading home two in the matters of minutes both from wonderful crosses. The first a great ball in from the right which was met by Hayter whose header looped all the way in. The second from the right again but this time a corner, Hayter capitalised on a goalkeeping error to head in from yard.
At 5-2 the game was all but safe for Romsey but Laverstock did pull a goal but on 77 minutes when the ball found a Laavy midfielder on the edge of thye area who smashed.
5-3 surely that was all the goals and it was thanks to a good save by the Laavy ‘keeper who kept out Chris Hall who went through one on one.
TUESDAY 18th JANUARY 2011
Alresford Town 2-6 Laverstock & Ford (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebuy Park
Alresford suffered a humiliating home defeat on Tuesday night against a team who, although several places below them in the table, have shown a considerable improvement in recent weeks to haul themselves away from the relegation zone.
Missing the assorted midfield talents of Danny Barber (injured), Warren Bentley (away at University) and Kieran Gallagher (transferred to Wessex Premier rivals Romsey Town), the Magpies welcomed back Adrian de la Nougerede from suspension. Mike Broughton, their new signing from Winchester City, made a cameo appearance from the bench.
In the first half Laverstock were the better side, matching their hosts for skill and beating them comfortably for physical strength and power. Continually harrying and chasing, they forced Alresford to play football in areas where the home side weren't comfortable, and before long the Magpies' strike force were feeding on scraps.
Laverstock took the lead on 9 minutes when Kieran Mulcahy broke on the right. His cross arrived at the feet of Eddie Perrett, who had time to control the ball before blasting it past Chris Waller, who had no realistic chance of making a save.
At the other end Simon Everett fired a couple of long shots wide, but little was seen of Alresford as an attacking force while Laverstock seemed content to sit on their lead.
The second half, though, was totally different, with goals raining in seemingly from all angles. On 54 minutes the visitors doubled their advantage when Danny Urry let fly with a rocket of a shot that again gave Waller no chance.
Alresford then enjoyed their best spell of the match. Scott Waters shot wide, Dean Cole's dangerous cross was cut out by Graham Mills and Fergus Neil fired wide at the end of a solo run. But the hosts were not to be denied, and Tom Donaldson dragged them back into it at 2-1 with a crisp finish after Everett had sent full-back Jamie Bentley free with a raking ball to the right wing and the visitors could only half-clear his cross.
The Magpies' hopes of a comeback were short-lived. On 67 minutes Bentley cleared off the line after Louis Elder had lobbed Waller, but Elder headed home the resulting corner to make in 3-1. Then, on 70 minutes, Perrett swivelled to claim his second of the evening.
Alresford's despair deepened on 79 minutes when Laverstock scored twice more. Sub Dean Smith netted with a shot and Mulcahy added a header from a right wing cross less than 60 seconds later. Donaldson's deflected effort at the end of normal time reduced the arrears, but there was no disguising Laverstock's dominance.
SATURDAY 15th JANUARY 2011
Christchurch 0-0 Brading Town (Premier Division)
By MARK DUFFY at Hurn Bridge
This was not your normal dour 0-0 as it was a highly entertaining well officiated match between two evenly matched sides. Church welcomed back influential midfielder (and his family) Mark Smith from his sabbatical at Wimborne and Colin Dand replaced the injured Shaun Brian at the heart of the home defence.
Groundsman Dave Edwards had done a remarkable job in getting the game played in view of the inclement weather over the last few days & the home side started brightly and nearly took the lead on 4 minutes when a Brading defender headed against his own crossbar. Marc Fairbrother was creating havoc on the right flank and was denied a possible penalty on 20 minutes when he was possibly fouled in the penalty area. With Church dominating the midfield Callum Burt had a fierce drive well saved on 22 minutes and it was the same player who after 35 minutes had a goal bound effort deflected behind by his skipper Dan Crutchley for a goal kick!!
Somehow the score remained goalless at half time with keeper Stewart Kearn having a quiet 45 minutes but the visitors came out in a determined mood and as the game progressed looked more dangerous. Possibly the best chance of the game came on the hour mark when a long cross from the visitors right flank resulted in a superb save from Kearn from the resulting header. The game went from end to end with as previously stated Brading looking the more dangerous but at the end of the day a fair result.
Fleet Spurs 2-3 Warminster Town (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Kennels Lane
Following Spurs' splendid performance and result at Petersfield, this was a serious let-down. They started sloppily, giving the ball away and not closing their opponents down and it was no surprise when Warminster took the lead after five minutes with a fine left-foot shot from the impressive Tom Welch, which went in off the far post, though the Fleet defence were at fault for standing off the Town attacker. Warminster doubled their lead after 20 minutes when a catalogue of errors in the home defence led to Mathew Guy having a simple chance from close range after a goalmouth scramble and he made no mistake in beating the helpless Mark Appleby. Quarter of an hour later Spurs gained a penalty rather against the run of the play when keeper Carl Crabtree brought down David Pitt just inside the area. Sam Knowles made no mistake from the spot, but the referee ordered the kick to be retaken as Spurs players had encroached into the box and this time Knowles blasted the ball over the bar. Warminster might have scored more before half-time, but were thwarted by some good saves from Appleby.
After the break, Spurs switched from their customary 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 formation and the game was more even. Following the hour mark, Fleet began to press, and twenty minutes from the end Crabtree could only parry a cross from sub Felix Lainge and Knowles netted powerfully from close range. Five minutes later, the big striker returned the compliment with a looping back-header that Lainge was able to force home for his first goal for the club. However, the hoped-for happy ending for Spurs was not to be. Ten minutes from the end, an unnecessary foul on the edge of the area led to a free-kick for Town, which Welch curled low to Appleby's right just inside the post for the deciding goal.
Ringwood Town 1-0 AFC Portchester (Division One)
By AUBREY HODDER at Long Lane
A first half penalty from Nick Howes was to be the only goal of the game and gave Ringwood Town a much needed confidence booster against second placed AFC Portchester.
The crucial moment of the game came late in the 1st half and arose when the match referee spotted a handball in the penalty area. AFC Portchester players contested the award of the spot kick but the drama did not end there.
Howes first attempt was pushed away by Portchester keeper Karl Watson but the Referees Assistant deemed that he had advanced and moved off his line too early.
Howes stepped up again and fired home.
A game of not many clear chances but with home keeper Jon Page called late on to make crucial saves. Credit to both sides for looking to play football against a wind factor the strength of which had not been endured at Long Lane for a very long time.
TUESDAY 11th JANUARY 2011
Alresford Town 1-1 Hamble ASSC (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
Simon Everett's second-half goal earned Alresford a share of the spoils in an uncompromising but entertaining battle at Arlebury Park last Tuesday night.
After an excellent draw at Hamworthy on Saturday Alresford welcomed back Joe Wright from suspension and Scott Waters from injury, while Fergus Neil - who has impressed as a sub - made his first start at right-back for the Magpies.
It was cut-and-thrust football from the opening whistle. The hosts had the best of the early chances when Dean Cole's pass behind the Hamble back four left Waters with a clear sight of goal. He should have tested keeper Jon Webb, but miskicked horribly - in fact he hardly tested the ball!
The Magpies looked slicker in midfield and had the greater share of possession, but Hamble always looked dangerous on the break. In Jamie Musselwhite they have a striker of great power and ability and it was he who gave the Planemakers the lead on 38 minutes, producing a looping header from a right-wing cross that went into the top right corner of the Alresford net.
In the second half Alresford replaced the tiring Wright with Ben Stanbrook, and the end-to-end football continued. Everett made it 1-1 on 61 minutes from close in after a deft move through the middle, Tom Riddell sending him through on goal with a pinpoint pass.
Cole, Tom Donaldson and Everett all had chances to win the game in the last quarter, while Hamble came close when the home defence had to scramble the ball away after Ashley Jarvis's neat turn gave him a sight of goal.
Neither side will be totally satisfied with a single point, but the performance will give both something to build on as the season moves into its own second half.
SATURDAY 8th JANUARY 2011
Hamworthy United 0-0 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at The County Ground
With illness, unavailability and suspensions taking their toll Alresford travelled to high-flying Hamworthy on Saturday with only one fit substitute.
There were five changes to the starting line-up from the eleven that had lost against Winchester City. Chris Waller took over from Dan Chapman in goal while Danny Edwards, Danny Barber and Kieran Gallagher were all unavailable through illness. Mike Rayner was out through injury. Youngster Andy Turner started up front with Tom Riddell, and Dean Cole dropped back into midfield.
Despite the changes to personnel and formation, the visitors managed to deny the home side with a combination of excellent defending, some great saves by Waller and a good work ethic throughout the team from front to back.
Although the home side had the majority of possession and pressure they were unable to break through. The closest they came was a 41st minute shot by Burbidge from 8 yards that drew a fine save from Waller.
The second half started as the first had finished, but the visitors were determined not to concede and succeeded in achieving their objective - although some poor finishing by the home side certainly helped! Harry Little replaced Ash Ledger on 80 minutes, and Alresford finished the stronger of the two teams. The Magpies could even have pinched all three points in the dying minutes.
FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Hamworthy United 0-0 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By ROGER NICHOLSON at The County Ground
Not for the first time in the matches played between these two sides Alresford proved to be a difficult side to beat. Hamworthy had more of the play in the first half and completely dominated the second, but to their credit with some good goalkeeping together with some good defending and a little bit of luck the Town hung on for a 0-0 draw. The Hammers were without the services of their captain Max Crow who is now sidelined for eight weeks after chipping an ankle bone in the previous game against Totton & Eling. Simon Browne did welcome Stuart Cannie and Dave Ewen back into the squad after missing the previous game. Seventeen year old Dan Spencer was given the chance to make his first start for some time after recovering from a long spell of injury..
Hamworthy began the match kicking towards the school end on a sticky pitch, and in front of a healthy crowd of a hundred and twenty six people. The pattern of the first half soon took shape with United having a bit more possession than their visitors, and creating the better chances. One of these came when a well directed corner from Dan Hayson was met by the Hammers top goal scorer Luke Burbidge. Unfortunately he was unable to direct his header on target sending it inches wide of the post. Luke Burbidge again went close with another header shortly afterwards that ended the same way as his previous effort. Dave Ewing came closest to opening the scoring with a shot that looked destined for the top corner of the net. The Alresford keeper had other ideas however pulling off his best of many good saves during the game. He flung himself across the goal to finger tip the ball past the post to deny the Hammers a lead they probably deserved at that stage of the game. The Town played some good passing football of their own, but were denied a goal scoring opportunity by a well organized United defence. Both Teams went in at the break with no goals to show for an entertaining first half.
Hamworthy over the years have preferred to attack the Irvin Brown Stand end, and certainly started the second half by doing just that. In fact they continued to dominate the next forty five minutes without the reward they deserved. They were now totally on top, but unfortunately guilty at times of over elaborating, and were often closed down before they could get a shot away. To their credit Alresford defended well in depth and in numbers, with their Keeper pulling off a number of good saves to keep them in the game. Simon Browne brought on Stuart Cannie and Jack Satterley to try and get a winner, but unlike in the previous game the opposition held firm. In fact United were in danger at times of being hit on the break as they pressed up in search of a winner. The few attacks the Town did make however were dealt with before they could get a shot on goal, and they never really looked like scoring. At the final whistle the score remained goalless, but it certainly had not been a boring match. Both teams had contributed in their own way to an entertaining game.
Pewsey Vale 1-1 Cowes Sports (Division One)
By JEFF MATTHEWS at The Recreation Ground
Both sides had their chances during the first 45 minutes but had to settle for a
nil' nil' draw at the break. Cowes broke the deadlock on the 51st minute when Dominic Burbidge chased down the right flank to clip over off a Vale defender to Darren Williams to acrobatically put into the the left corner of the net. Williams was again unlucky not to score again minutes later but with a one on one with Richard Payne but the vale keeper denied him. Pewsey made changes in their line up,and was denied by the Cowes defence somehow scambled the ball clear. The Vale got back level on 73 minutes,A great ball out to Freddy Loosmore on the right flank,his cross into the box found Micky Martin to knock home giving the visitors keeper Chris Norris little chance. As both sides looked for the winner Tom Dye cracked a powerfull shot that Payne tipped over the bar. And Pewsey was unlucky having two chances cleared of the goaline before a brilliant save by Norris. From Tom Ritchie free kick.
MONDAY 3rd JANUARY 2011
Alresford Town 0-3 Winchester City (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
After six weeks without a league game, Alresford looked rusty and were decidedly second best against a City side who are mounting a strong challenge for the title.
City looked the more lively side right from the opening whistle. In the first minute James Screen broke through the home defence, but his low cross just eluded Doug Rowe at the far post. The best the Magpies could manage early on was a scuffed Kieran Gallagher shot that failed to trouble Ryan Gosney in the City goal.
The visitors took the lead on 15 minutes when Tom Dunford threaded a short pass forward to Rowe, who dinked his shot over advancing home keeper Dan Chapman; the ball went in off the inside of the far post. Alresford struck back with a Tom Donaldson long shot that flew just over the bar, but City were still on top. Despite some gritty blocks and tackles by central defenders Graham Bird and Mike Rayner, City doubled their lead on 39 minutes. A short free-kick was touched to Dunford, whose shot took the merest of deflections off of the defensive wall to fly into the net low at the near post.
Alresford brought on Tom Riddell at half-time for the hobbling Danny Barber, but City still looked the brighter. Rowe blazed over in a one-on-one with Chapman, who soon afterwards made a great save to keep out Zach Glasspool's goalbound header.
On 71 minutes City put the game to bed with a third goal, Dunford applying the finishing touch to Rowe's pass. Alresford kept on trying, and created some reasonable chances in the last quarter of the game. Riddell in particular worked the City defence and drew a couple of saves from Gosney, but the visitors knew that the job was done and were content to play out time, comfortably sealing the three points.
Hamworthy United 3-0 Totton & Eling (Premier Division)
By ROGER NICHOLSON at The County Ground
This was Hamworthy's first game in almost three weeks, and for sixty minutes of the match it certainly looked like it. The Hammers struggled the entire first half to get their game going, whilst their visitors who had played the Tuesday prior to this match looked the livelier of the two teams. The Hammers were without Dave Ewen who was ill, and so this gave a chance to Liam Currell to start the game following a long lay off through injury.
As previously stated Totton & Eling made much the better start of the two teams, with the Hammers struggling to get any sort of rhythm going in their game. Dan Ackerman had to make a couple of decent saves as the visitors looked to take an early lead. Luckily for United Totton's approach work was not matched by their finishing, which for the most part was off target. The Home Team lost the services of their Captain Max Crowe who was stretchered off with a twisted ankle, and was replaced by Will Robinson. Hamworthy's best chance came mid way through the half when George Webb was found unmarked in front of goal. The normally sharp reliable mid-fielder reflected the Hammers first half performance by shooting straight at Tom Hawkins the ex Hamworthy Keeper now playing for Totton & Eling. He gratefully gathered in the ball into his chest, and the chance was gone. Kev Dawtry must have been the happier of the two Managers at the interval, but perhaps he was a little disappointed that his team was not in the lead.
United started the second half a little better than they had the first and were now enjoying more of the possession, but they were still unable to get a telling shot in on goal. With fifteen minutes of the half gone Liam Currell who had just been booked (harshly in many people's opinion) was replaced by sixteen year old Jack Satterley. The young striker was soon in the action sending a dangerous low cross into the six yard box from the left which was somehow missed by everybody. He was then to miss his best chance of the match. A low cross this time from the right saw him end up in the net, and not the ball after sliding in at the far post.
Simon Browne brought on another youngster Dan Spencer to add a bit more pace to a team that was now firmly on top. Hamworthy's pressure was at last rewarded in the eightieth minute with a goal that was worth waiting for. Jack Satterley from the edge of the penalty box smashed the ball past Tom Hawkins to score the first of his two goals. Two minutes later
Jack Slatterley scored again after being put through on goal. This time he kept his cool to round the Keeper and roll the ball into the empty net. It was now all Hamworthy, and with one minute of the game remaining it was Luke Burbidge who cleverly weaved his way through Totton's now weary defence to score another superbly taken goal, the third of the match and send the Hamworthy faithful home happy.
Petersfield Town 2-6 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Love Lane
In their first game since 20 November, Spurs made a splendid start by to the new year with a convincing victory over a good Petersfield side, though the game was not as comfortable for them as the score suggests. Indeed, had it not been for an outstanding performance by 18-year-old David Pitt, making his first start for the club in a competitive fixture, the result might have been very different.
Spurs made a bright start, but Petersfield took the lead in the tenth minute with an excellent goal by Mike Newman, who cleverly beat a Fleet defender before rifling home an unstoppable left-foot drive. Then that man Pitt took over. First he waltzed through the Town defence before giving keeper Andrew Stass no chance with a low left-foot shot. Then he latched on to a good Abdou Bojang pass, took the ball round the keeper and slotted home. On the brink of half-time, he picked the pocket of a Petersfield defender and crossed for Sam Knowles to place the ball in the empty net. The two-goal half-time margin probably flattered Spurs as they had not had all the play, and Mark Appleby was the busier of the keepers, making a number of smart saves and commanding his area confidently.
Two minutes after the break, Liam Jeram reduced the arrears with a fine shot from the edge of the box and for a while it looked as if Town might equalise as Fleet began to give the ball away carelessly. However, midway through the half it was Pitt again who collected an unselfish pass from Knowles before beating the keeper with an exquisite chip. Ten minutes from the end, Pitt picked the ball up on the edge of the area and beat three men before scoring with another delicate chip. Sam Knowles completed the scoring with a stoppage-time penalty after substitute Jack Chambers had been tripped in the box.
TUESDAY 14th DECEMBER 2010
Brockenhurst 4-0 Alresford Town (Hampshire Senior Cup)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Grigg Lane
A four-goal Hampshire Senior Cup drubbing at the hands of a team in the Sydenhams Premier relegation zone gave a stark reality check to Alresford, who seemed to have forgotten how to produce the magic spark during their three-week layoff due to frozen pitches.
Both sides showed their attacking intent from the start. Dean Cole and Ash Ledger had shots for the Magpies and Richard Morse and Mark Barker for the Badgers all in the first five minutes.
As the first half progressed, though, Brockenhurst began to get a grip on the midfield, with Warren Kenna prominent; Alresford's crisp passing game seemed to have deserted them. The hosts took the lead on 30 minutes when a well-worked move down the right culminated in a tap-in for Morse from six yards out.
Alresford enjoyed their best spell early in the second half thanks to some incisive running from Scott Waters. But on 63 minutes keeper Dan Chapman, trying to play some football on the edge of his own box, succeeded only in presenting the ball to Ben Sullivan. He fed Morse, who duly tucked away his side's second goal.
That goal had an element of comedy about it, but the third and fourth goals were pure quality strikes from Barker and Jim Crossin, and in the end the hosts were far from flattered by their margin of victory.
SATURDAY 11th DECEMBER 2010
Lymington Town 7-0 Hayling United (Premier Division)
By RUSSELL YOUNG at the Recreation Ground
Lymington Town warmed up for Christmas in superb style racking up their best Sydenham's Premier Division win of the season so far, with a 7-0 win over basement boys Hayling United.
A fine hat-trick from Steve Whitcher was the foundation for a excellent afternoon, added to by John Howard, Tom Barge, Dan Fox and Charlie Anderson.
Manager Matt Hussey left the Sports Ground a delighted man on Saturday night, praising the contribution of Whitcher and the entire team.
"Hopefully there are many more goals and many more excellent performances from him to come," he said. "We are also delighted for everyone Charlie Anderson who deserved his goal, the entire defence and Willo (Stuart Williamson) for keeping a clean sheet.
"The football we played was outstanding. It could have been ten. The easiest thing could have been to play well in the first half and then let it go in the second. We didn't do that and it was very pleasing the way we kept on pssing and doing good habits."
Despite the odd scare at the start of the game Lymington dominated the opening exchanges when Whitcher had a shot charged down, Ben Thomson shot wide from a one-two with Darren Ritchie and Steve Green's ball was intercepted by Hayling keeper Elliot Ransom moments before Anderson was set to pounce.
Town opened up their account when Ransom let a Whitcher catch slip through his clutches and Howard reacted well to scramble the ball over the line.
Two minutes later Luke Ansell's long ball in behind the defence found Whitcher, who scored his first ever Lymington goal - since his transfer from Wimborne, lobbing the advancing Ransom.
Anderson then grazed the outside of the post and Gareth Byres had a shot charged down, as Lymo stepped up a gear.
Hayling weren't without their moments as Josh Case and Adam Rudling both volleyed over when well placed.
In first half stoppage time Whitcher notched his second of the game finishing off a good move from Thomson's cute pass.
Byres, Craig Shrimpton and Whitcher all went close, before Anderson put the game out of Hayling's reach finishing off a Byres cross on the hour.
A comedy of errors resulted in the fifth when Anderson and Whitcher's link-up play was broken down by Darren Watts. However, despite doing the hard part Watts decided to inexplicably overhit a back pass to Ramson who was caught out by his skipper's intention. Despite brilliantly palming away the ball, Tom Barge was on hand to shoot low into the empty net.
Lymington were doing the simple things well and at times it was like a training game, such was the ease of the performance.
There was still time for Whitcher to complete his hat-trick after being put in by Stuart Green.
Dan Fox wrapped up an excellent afternoon heading home from Stuart Green's pin-point cross.
"We go into the Christmas period full of confidence," added Hussey. "If we can play to our optimum then we can get a result. Hamworthy are a good side but all we can ask for is what the players have given us today and if we can take it into the next game then we can get a result. It's all about building on this result."
TUESDAY 3rd DECEMBER 2010
Hamworthy United 0-4 Weymouth
By ROGER NICHOLSON at The County Ground
Hamworthy United could have had few complaints about losing to a team that thoroughly deserved their win on the night. They must have been more than a little disappointed however by the score line in a game that they had held their own for long periods. The big difference between the sides however was the Weymouth striker on loan from Salisbury Matt Wright who scored a hat-rick.
Once again United started very slowly and found themselves two goals down in the first ten minutes both coming from corners. The first was scrambled over the line by Matt Wright. The second goal scored by ex-Hammer Warren Byerley was more than a little controversial. First of all the ball appeared to be handled on its way across the box by a Weymouth player. Secondly Warren was stood on the goal line behind Dan Ackerman when he received the ball. He therefore appeared to be in an off side position, before he tapped the ball home. Hamworthy gradually got into the game, and Tom Manley was at full stretch in the twentieth minute, diving to prevent the Hammers reducing the lead. United were again made to pay the penalty for some poor defending when Wright scored his second. He this time latched on to a poor clearance to lob the ball over the advancing Ackerman. The Hamworthy Keeper got his hand to the ball but could only help it into the net. It was far from one way traffic and the Hammers sill made a couple of half chances of their own before the break which were well saved by the experienced Manley.
HT 0-3
United started the second half a lot stronger than they had the first and almost scored straight away. Keeper Manley stopped a fierce shot with his face before the ball whizzed over the crossbar to deny the Hammers a way back into the game. In fact it was the Zamaretto Premier side that were to score again in the 65th minute when a low cross was met at the far post by Matt Wright He scored with a diving header, his third of the night. To their credit Hamorthy continued to play some decent football, and held their own for long periods of the game, but unfortunately found the opposition that little bit too good for them on the night. All that can be hoped is that the young improving Hammers learnt from the experience of playing against a team from a higher level.
SATURDAY 27th NOVEMBER 2010
Hayling United 1-6 Hamworthy United
By ROGER NICHOLSON at Hayling College
If Hamworthy needed a bit of a boost before their next match against Weymouth FC in the Dorset Senior Cup, they certainly got it from this result. The Hammers welcomed back Max Crow from injury, and Mike Antrobus replaced duel signing Dan Hayson who had been recalled by Wimborne. The main highlight of the game was a thirty minute hat-trick by new signing Dave Ewing who has now scored five goals in three games since joining Hamworthy. Fellow striker Luke Burbidge also returned to scoring form with two goals that included a penalty.
Hamworthy again not for the first time in recent weeks conceded an early goal, this time in the first minute of play. A ball was not cleared when the opportunity arose from Hayling's first attack. The ball reached Lee Oliver whose fierce shot hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing down just over the line giving Dan Ackerman no chance. To their credit the Hammers soon got back into the game playing some good passing football on a difficult pitch. It was not this however that led to the equaliser in the eighth minute, but it came from a long clearance from Richard Jackson. Dave Ewing outpaced the square Hayling defence and kept his cool to level the score, slotting the ball past keeper Dan Ayres. Hamworthy continued to have the better of things going close on several occasions before the Dave Ewing found the net once again after fifteen minutes. This time he was found at the far post by a Stuart Cannie corner where he forced the ball home to give the Hammers the lead. The Islanders were now restricted to the odd break, but Greg Horlock and Michael White at the heart of the Hamworthy defence kept their shots on goal to a minimum. Dave Ewing got his hat-trick on the half hour after collecting the ball in the left hand corner of the field and cutting inside. He then found the far top corner of the net with a ball that may have been intended to be a cross. Hayling had their best attempt of the match a minute before the interval when they broke quickly out of defence. A good ball out to the right picked out a Hayling player who took the ball to the by-line before making an accurate cross to his striker in the centre. The resulting shot saw Dan Ackerman at full stretch to divert the fiercely struck goal bound effort round the post, and keep the two goal lead.
The Islanders started the second period with a bit more purpose, and held their own for the first quarter of the second half. They were always however open to being hit by the counter attack, and this is what happened when Ryan Murray was put through to score his first goal in the Hamworthy colours. The game was now won, and perhaps one or two of the Hammers were now understandably a little guilty of easing off. Simon Brown made changes to give his players on the bench a run out, and it was one of these that was brought down for a penalty. Jack Swann was put through one on one with the keeper, but was brought down by Ayres as he went to go round him in the box. The Hayling man was shown a second yellow and dismissed by the Referee before Luke Burbidge stepped up to score from the spot. After not scoring for a few games, Luke Burbidge again found the back of the net two minutes later, to complete the scoring. This was after the stand in keeper had made a great save, but could only direct the ball into the path of the Hamworthy striker, who made no mistake. To their credit Hayling tried to pull something back in the last six minutes, but on the day they were well beaten by a team now lying fifth in the table.
THURSDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2010
Andover New Street 3-3 Andover (2-4 pens) (Russell Cotes Cup)
By JOHN GORMAN at Foxcotte Park
The last time these two sides met in the North Hants Cup the tie was decided on penalties in Andover's favour at the Portway after extra time and a four all draw. This time round the venue was Foxcotte Park and again Andover came out top in the penalty shoot out, this time after six goals had been shared in the 120 minutes of football.
Andover fielded only Jason Sangha. Craig Martin and Ben Chambers with any real Southern League experience and found themselves a goal behind after just five minutes when goalkeeper Josh Barnett failed to hold a high cross and Elliott Capel prodded the loose ball into the net. Both sides had further chances with Jazz Beavis faiiling to make contact with a cross at the far post and a shot from Chambers blocked whilst at the other end Vince Rusher was too high and a Danny Sullivan effort passed just the wrong side of the post. Dave Tasker turned a low drive from Claudio Herbert round the post before the break came with the home side still one goal to the good.
That state of affairs lasted barely sixty seconds after the restart as it was the New Street defence's turn to get in a tangle over a high cross and Craig Blakeman fired the Lions level but within ten minutes New Street were back in front with the best goal of the game. Pa Touray's deft footwork on the edge of his own area enabled him to find Rusher in midfield, the through ball was instant and Sullivan coolly lobbed the advancing Barnett. Herbert was a constant threat on the Lions right and although Barnett had to be at full stretch to claw away a Nick Oliver effort it was the visitors who were enjoying the greater possession and, cruelly for New Street, that possession paid off with just three minutes of normal time remaining. Herbert floated a free kick to the far post, the ball was headed back across goal and sunstitute Scott Edgecombe turned it over the line to ensure a good crowd were treated to extra time in falling temperatures.
Capel was inches too high with the first effort in the extra period but it was the Lions who edged themselves in front for the first time when Chambers's hard driven low cross was met by Blakeman at the near post. Herbert came close to extending the lead as the game moved in to the last fifteen minutes before Touray again displayed some neat footwork on the left, the defence failed to deal with the cross and Sullivan claimed his second goal of the evening to level the scores and with neither side able to break the deadlock it was all down to penalties. The Lions scored three of their first four and with New Street having missed two, goalkeeper Josh Barnett went from gamekeeper to poacher by converting his side's fifth penalty to give Andover the spoils and a semi final date at Whitchurch on a date to be decided.
SATURDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2010
Amesbury Town 0-4 Stockbridge (Division One)
By MARK HILTON at Bonnymead Park
Stockbridge's clinical finishing saw them ease home 4-0 in this bottom of the table clash at Bonnymead Park .
Amesbury started well when Toni Camilleri outpaced the Stockbridge defence but his shot went agonisingly wide inside the first minute. Five minutes later a Gareth Horner cross just evaded Danny Finnigan but within a minute Stockbridge were ahead. Steve Witt's right foot volley from the edge of the penalty area sailed over Danny Harrrison and into the Amesbury net. It was a case of déjŕ vu 8 minutes later when Stockbridge doubled their lead through recent signing Dave Cotter when he tried his luck from the edge of the box and again saw a shot sail over Harrison and into the net. There then followed a corner from the right and once again the ball found Steve Witt on the far edge of the area and he drilled home. Three shots, three goals to show Amesbury how it should be done. The half petered out into a dull scrap until a minute before half timeyoungster Ollie Vines saw hs shot saved by Bridge keeper Allan Ralph, although it was Stockbridge who finished the half stronger with efforts by Cotters were firstly wide and then saved by Harrison to keep the half time score at 0-3.
Nick Horner brought Tyler Brockway on for his debut at half time replacing Toni Camilleri but it was Stockbridge who increased their lead on the hour when the Amesbury defence failed to deal with a long punt by Ralph and Cotter lobbed Harrison for his 2nd and Stockbridge's 4th.
The reds then had further chances through Sam Coleman and Mike Barker , the latter well pushed round by Harrison who was exposed by poor defending. Five minutes from time a late flurry from Amesbury saw Finnigan's shot parried by Ralph but Geoff Wells was unable to turn the rebound home under pressure from two defenders and a Horner corner saw Finnigan shoot wide to trouble a few sheep in the field behind.
One to forget for the Blues. They need to pick themselves up and attempt to beat another struggling side, at Shaftesbury next Saturday.
Downton 3-3 Andover New Street (Division One)
By JOHN GORMAN at The Brian Whitehead Sports Centre
This was a tremendous advertisement for Wessex League Division One and the Wessex League in general with promotion chasing Downton deservedly going two goals ahead and New Street finally snatching a point in second half stoppage time.
Downton, skilfully prompted throughout by Matty Holmes, took the game to their opponents from the start and early cautions for two of the visitors showed they were on the back foot, and it was no surprise when the home side went ahead on seventeen minutes. Downton won a corner on the left, Newman's kick was only partially cleared and Callum Robertson's shot through a crowded area was deflected, intentionally or otherwise, past Street goalkeeper Dave Tasker by Josh Thomas. Tasker denied Nic Turpin before the same player was too high after being set up by Dan Gain. New Street's Nic Oliver hit the side netting but ten minutes after their opening goal Downton increased their lead when a long ball split the defence and Turpin beat the advancing Tasker to score against his old club. To their credit the visitors came back with an Oliver volley that was only inches too high and then had justifiable penalty appeals waved away when a home defender appeared to handle a cross. Vince Rusher smacked a thirty yard free kick against the angle of cross and bar but when two minutes from the break Prince Xamelia and Elliott Capel set him up on the edge of the area the shot flew low and true into the corner of the net to bring his side back into the game. There was still time for home goalkeeper Steve Cox to deny Isaac Sedu with his legs thereby ensuring it was Downton who maintained their one goal advantage at the break.
The normally free scoring Declan McGregor fired over from close range on the restart, a miss that was to prove initially costly as New Street claimed an equsliser five minutes later, Sedu glancing a header from Oliver's cross past Cox. Tasker saved well from a Holmes free kick and Gain could not get enough power on a header which was cleared off the line with the goalkeeper stranded before the home side went in front again. Gain, having gone close with another header, sent over a long cross from the left and with the visiting defence in a tangle Robertson turned the loose ball past Tasker. Undeterred New Street kept pressing forward and gained their reward in stoppage time when Sedu turned the ball in from close range following a corner.
Downton may feel it was two points dropped after their first half domination but all credit to New Street who have turned their season round after a poor start.
Fleet Spurs 3-0 Hythe & Dibden (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Kennels Lane
This was a convincing performance by Spurs that led to a well deserved victory.
The first twenty minutes were even, with Hythe looking slightly the better side but with no real chances for either side. Then new assistant manager Neil Selby came on for Luke Walsh, who had picked up a hamstring strain, and the game began to move in Fleet's favour, something that was to continue until the final whistle. Five minutes after Selby's entry, he got on the end of a cross from George Short and although the ball ran free, Grant Nesbit fired home, the ball taking a slight deflection off a Hythe defender's leg. Five minutes before the break, another Short cross picked out Selby, who made space for himself and shot powerfully and unstoppably past Matt Willsher to double Spurs' advantage.
Half-time came with Spurs good value for their lead, and ten minutes into the second half, Selby produced a fine low cross, which Sam Knowles swept home at the far post for his twenty-first league goal of the season. That concluded the scoring, although Spurs created a number of chances and remained comfortably in command.
This was a very encouraging performance by Fleet. All the team played well and the performances of the new players were a cause of optimism for the future. Grant Nesbit (the colonel) was in commanding form, central defenders Martin Farimer and Antonio Simeone coped comfortably with anything that the visitors could throw at them, while David Blake made a promising debut for the club.
TUESDAY 17th NOVEMBER 2010
Hayling United 0-7 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Hayling College
Dean Cole grabbed the headlines with five goals, but the whole Alresford team deserve great credit for a fantastic performance and their record Wessex League victory. Keeper Chris Waller dealt with the difficult conditions calmly and capably, making some solid saves and demonstrating impeccable handling. His confidence seemed to spread throughout the team as a game that started off as a very tough proposition ended up as a rout.
The Magpies took the lead on just 7 minutes when Cole converted Adie de la Nougerede's pass with a perfect chip that looped over home keeper Elliott Manson and dipped behind him into the net.
For the rest of the first half, though, the visitors were on the back foot. Hayling, with a gale at their backs, were the dominant force in midfield without creating many clear-cut openings. Alresford were relieved to go in a goal ahead at the break.
There was no doubt about who was in charge in the second half. Alresford gradually turned up the wick, Danny Barber scoring their second on 64 minutes with a bullet header from Scott Waters' perfect cross.
Fergus Neil, on as sub, quickly made his mark by drawing a foul from Lenny Burney in the Hayling box. Manson beat out Cole's 68th-minute penalty, but the striker made no mistake with his follow-up effort.
Alresford's composure grew visibly after that, while Hayling's disintegrated. Cole hit the bar with a rasping shot on 77 minutes, but completed his hat-trick just a minute later with a first-time finish from a left-wing corner.
Next on the scoresheet was Tom Donaldson, the sub producing an accurate finish after the Hayling defence had failed to clear a Barber free-kick.
Cole made it 6-0 with an excellent solo run and shot on 87 minutes, and with the travelling contingent on cloud nine completed his own nap hand with a tap-in from close range after Manson halted Barber's surge through the middle with a clumsy lunge.
As an added bonus Alresford are now in line for special recognition from the Sydenhams Wessex League for becoming the first club to score 25 goals after September 25th in the league's 25th anniversary season. If they keep on playing like this, there will be more accolades to come!
SATURDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2010
Alresford Town 4-0 Fawley AFC (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
Danny Barber certainly served up ‘something for the weekend' with an excellent hat-trick that saw Alresford to a league double over Fawley, who have shown a big improvement in form since the two sides met down on the Waterside a month ago.
Following Tuesday's defeat at the hands of Blackfield, Alresford managers Tim Cole and Danny Robinson recalled midfielders Kieran Gallagher (out through flu) and Warren Bentley (away at university in midweek), allowing James Davis to revert to his familiar left-back berth, and introducing keeper Chris Waller for only his second league start. The outcome was a cohesive performance throughout the team with the right blend of steel and flair to earn victory against determined opponents.
Alresford held the early territorial advantage, but were let down by their final ball. Even so, Simon Everett had a shot cleared off the line on 23 minutes after visiting keeper Ian Moore, under pressure from Bentley, flapped at a cross.
Fawley squandered a good chance to open the scoring on 31 minutes when Simon Davison was left unmarked from a corner, but directed his header straight to a grateful Waller. The Magpies made their visitors pay on 43 minutes when Everett started a fine move with a clever flick. Gallagher, Dean Cole and Scott Waters were all involved as Alresford worked the ball to Barber, who, free in the Fawley box, tucked the ball under Moore for the opener.
The Magpies had an early scare in the second half when Craig Feeney turned his marker and dragged a shot across the face of goal. But Alresford's second, on 55 minutes, proved to be the key moment. Bentley was the creator with a deft chip over the middle of the Fawley defence, and Everett, who at times seemed to be everywhere at once, calmly controlled the ball and slipped it past Moore.
That clearly knocked the stuffing out of Fawley, and James Eyles soon came close to increasing Alresford's lead with an audacious lob from a weak clearance that fell to him near the halfway line.
The third goal arrived on 83 minutes, Barber twisting and turning in the box after receiving a pass from sub Ash Ledger before netting from a tight angle. He completed his hat-trick in injury time with a diving header to finish off some fine work by Waters on the left.
Guildford City 5-2 Brading Town (FA Vase 2nd Round)
By JOHN GORMAN at Spectrum Sports Centre
Brading's run in the FA Vase ended in the slightly unreal surroundings of Guildford's Spectrum Sports Centre on Saturday in a game in which they were on the back foot from the start and hardly conjured up an effort on goal in the opening forty five minutes. An improvement in the second half saw them score twice but with only ten men by that stage they were twice undone on the counter attack and on the day cannot argue over the result.
It took only five minutes for the home side to take the lead as the visiting defence only partially cleared a cross and goalkeeper True brought down Greaves in a crowded area with the big number nine picking himself up to fire the penalty low into the back of the net. Worse was to quickly follow as Jayden Gibbs, brother of the Arsenal and England full back, showed considerable skill and pace to reach the byeline and pull the ball back for Jack Guilford to slot home. The same two players combined again but the shot was straight at True before a rather soft goal saw the Islanders three down midway through the half. There seemed little danger as Penson crossed from the left but with everybody seemingly watching Greaves the ball the ball bounced once and finished inside the far post. Brading's first real threat on goal saw home keeper Hall having to leave his area to beat Scott Jones to a through ball but the home side finished the half as the had begun with Gibbs hitting the bar and Oliver Fleming clearing a shot from Camara off the line.
Any hopes of a second half come back for Brading evaporated within two minutes of the re-start when a corner of the left saw Greaves's header handled on the line by Stephen Ledger and the red card that followed made the mountain that Brading had to climb seem even higher. Some small consolation came as True plunged to his left to save Greaves's penalty and then saved twice from Guilford in quick succession before at last, eleven minutes in to the second half, the visitors established a foot hold in the game with Kyle Levrier being inches too high on the turn before Jamie O'Rourke's thumping header from a right wing corner reduced the deficit. A long run by Jones was halted by weight of numbers and a free kick blocked by the wall before the Islanders, pressing forward, were caught on the break and Greaves notched his second and his side's fourth. To their credit Brading immediately reduced the deficit again when Levrier collected a free kick and turned neatly in the box before shooting low past Hall with just over ten minutes remaining. Jones did get the ball in the net again, but was ruled offside, before Gibbs, who looks destined for a higher level of football, raced away again to claim goal number five.
This was not Brading's afternoon but had their first half performance matched the second the result could have been a lot closer and possibly different
Ringwood Town 3-2 Whitchurch United (Division One)
By JY TAYLOR at Long Lane
Ringwood Town's Chris Payne made a huge impact as he came off the bench with 15 minutes to go in this fiery encounter. The striker saved a goal-bound header on the line and then, just 10 seconds later, delivered a telling cross for Fleet to score Ringwood's 2nd as they edge Whitchurch out with just 10 men for 50 minutes.
For 20 minutes Ringwood Town FC were under some real pressure. Whitchurch played good football and their front line caused the home side a number of problems forcing two excellent saves from Page. However it was Ringwood who took the lead after 25 minutes very much against the run of play. Good work from Marks and Old on the right enabled Fleet to head beyond the visiting keeper from the resulting cross.
Whitchurch hit back with a vengeance and on 30 minutes the game burst into life with some poor decisions by the officials. A strong challenge on the edge of Ringwood's area saw the ball run free to the Whitchurch midfielder who hit a stunning shot from 25 yards into beyond the stretching Page and into the net. However, amidst the celebrations, Ringwood drew the referee's attention to the linesman who had put his flag up during the run of play and then lowered it again. Howes was somewhat over-enthusiastic with his protests and found himself in the book. However the referee consulted with his linesman and decided to disallow the goal for the challenge which he had deemed fair! With this the Whitchurch bench erupted and both sides were guilty of a real lack of discipline for the next 10 minutes.
On 35 minutes the referee again adversely affected the game. With Nick Howes in possession on the edge of his own area he was tackled and as he got up the Whitchurch player kicked out. Both players then squared up to each other and, without seeing the incident, the referee stopped the game and sent Howes from the field of play for a second bookable offence. The Whitchurch player went unpunished and it was the Ringwood benches turn to react poorly.
With a tirade being unleashed at the officials by both players and management, the visitors placed the free-kick deep towards the back post where on oncoming striker was on hand to head in the equaliser.
Ringwood could have gone ahead again just before the break but Fleet missed a glorious chance with just the keeper to beat from a sharp angle.
Half-time: 1-1
Having gone into the break lucky to be on level terms Ringwood certainly came out in the second period and looked the stronger side, despite being reduced to 10 men. At one stage though it looked like the game would head to a draw as Fleet again was guilty of missing the best chance with a header aimed at the keeper following a nice pass from Marks.
However with 20 minutes to go Ringwood introduced Chris Payne for the injured Ryan Bladen. The lively forward proved a handful on the right with his electric pace but it was at the other end where he made his first, telling intervention. With Whitchurch having forced a corner the substitute was on hand at the back post to save the resulting header off the line. Not content with this, as the ball broke to Fleet, whose deft touch found Yeats, Payne burst forward onto the end of a pass from Yeats. With time to look up Payne then floated a cross to the back post for Fleet to head downwards and into the net.
Whitchurch though were not buried and again they came back with a number of attacks. With Page in fine form though it looked like the visitors would be denied until the last 10 minutes arrived. A deep corner was not dealt with by the Ringwood defence and a soft header managed to loop its way over Page and between the keeper and Old to equalise.
With just minutes to go Page then pulled off a fantastic save at the near post to keep alive Ringwood's hopes of a winner. And it was their talisman, Danny Taylor, who provided the telling moment. With Clark's corner only just being headed to safety, Taylor took the next from the near side. His deep set-piece swung over the keeper and in off the back of a defender for Ringwood to celebrate!
Tuesday 9th NOVEMBER 2010
Alresford Town 2-4 Blackfield & Langley (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
Alresford's players paid a big price for some poor on-field decision making on Tuesday night with this home defeat against a team they were capable of beating.
For the third match running, the Magpies finished the game with ten men after Joe Wright was sent off. Wright was shown a straight red on 78 minutes for an act of retaliation on Blackfield sub Louis Bell, who escaped without punishment after appearing to foul the Alresford defender.
In the early stages Blackfield, with a bitterly cold gale behind them, edged it. Shaun Hughes went close for the visitors with a shot that was deflected over the bar, while at the other end Scott Waters headed just wide at the near post from a corner, and James Davis was denied a penalty after a tangle with a visiting defender inside the area.
Alresford were playing neat passing football, but not always doing it in the right areas. The first goal, on 34 minutes, came when they had tried to play their way out of defence and a stray pass went to Mark Hartmann. He took advantage of out-of-position keeper Dan Chapman to fire his side ahead.
Blackfield added a second on 42 minutes when a low right-wing cross found its way through to Neil Williams, who slotted in from close range.
The Magpies were a different proposition in the second half, and soon the pressure on the Blackfield goal began to mount. With Simon Everett prompting shrewdly from midfield and Danny Barber making incisive thrusts on the left, a home goal seemed imminent. It came on 58 minutes when Barber set up Ash Ledger for a perfect low cross, Waters finishing off the move in fine style from six yards.
The scene seemed set for a real comeback, but Blackfield extended their lead on 70 minutes when Hartmann's innocuous-looking shot from outside the box crept past Chapman's outstretched hand. Wright was sent off shortly afterwards.
But the home side fought on, and Dean Cole pulled it back to 3-2 on 88 minutes with a long shot that flew over Hartmann's head and into the back of the net. Blackfield did not deliver the killer blow until injury time, when an overstretched Magpies defence allowed Hartmann to complete his hat-trick at the end of an incisive move that flowed from one side of the pitch to the other.
SATURDAY 6th NOVEMBER 2010
Amesbury Town 2-1 Whitchurch United (Division One)
By MARK HILTON at Bonnymead Park
Amesbury Town came from behind to beat third place Whitchurch United at Bonnymead Park with Danny Finnigan scoring both goals. The first half an hour saw Whitchurch United created several chances and with more composure in front of goal may have found themselves a couple fo goals in front. Danny Harrison returned to Amesbury in goal after a spell away from the club and managed to keep a clean sheet until half time. Whitchurch's Ashley Childs, Paul Coventry, James Gilham and Brett Denham all had chances kept out by the Danny Harrison and his defence and the spell saw a free kick from Matt Bennett going wide of the post.
Amesbury came back into the game and on 36 minutes had their best chance of the half when Danny Finnigan's cross just evaded Ollie Vines in front of goal and fell to Ben Pulling who blazed over .
Amesbury again conceded early in the 2nd half. After a Gareth Horner free kick was easily saved by Whitchurch keeper Mindy Kuodys, Whitchurch took the lead on 52 minutes when Ashley Childs found Brett Denham who calmly slotted the ball past Danny Harrison to put the reds 1-0 up. This seemed to be the trigger that Amesbury needed and they had a spell of dominance after this. On 55 minutes Nathan Jones had a shot deflected for a corner and 12 minutes later they got level when Ben Pryce, made captain for the day as he was making his 200th appearance, won the ball on the left and crossed to Danny Finnigan who headed home.
On 81 minutes Craig Wheeler's corner was headed past the post by Neil Sole but a minute later Amesbury were ahead and a goal worthy of winning the tie. Danny Finnigan got the ball on the edge of the box and his initial shot was blocked. He controlled the rebound on his right foot and then lobbed with his right over Kuodys into the rigth corner to send the Amesbury crowd wild.
Whitchurch then applied pressure on Amesbury to try and get an equaliser and there were chances for substitute Chris Smalley whose lob just cleared the bar, followed by a great opportunity when he had a free header in the box but headed wide. Smalley and Luke Wlaker, another substitute both had half chances and Childs finally put the ball just past the post but they were unable to equalise and Amebsury held on for a narrow, but vital, victory.
TUESDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2010
Christchurch 1-1 Totton & Eling (aet 1-3 on pens) (Russell Cotes Cup)
By MARK DUFFY at Hurn Bridge
In a tight game Christchurch exited the Russell-Cotes Cup to the holders in the worst possible fashion by the dreaded penalty shoot out.
The first 20 minutes were even with neither side really testing the goalkeepers but the visitors did cause chaos in the home defence on 23 minutes when it took Church 3 occasions to clear the danger. At the other end pacey youngster Ben Dickenson was beginning to cause trouble on the left flank but 3 or 4 times he got clear of the visitors defence but either over hit his crosses or there was no one to apply the finishing touch.
The second half continued in a similar vein to the first with both defences looking strong and the nearest Church came to scoring was on 57 minutes when only desperate defending stopped them taking the lead but the best chance of the game came to Totton on 76 minutes when only a fine save by Stewart Kearn prevented a goal. The final chance of the 90 minutes came to Church substitute Paul Rideout on 83 minutes when he shot narrowly over the bar from 20 yards.
Extra time provided the first goal after 94 minutes when Shane Flooks finished well from 12 yards but there was a suscipion of offside about the build up to the goal. Church came came to equalising 3 minutes later when leading scorer Ben Osborne back heeled a fine cross by Jon Grace straight to the visitors keeper. The second period of extra time was a much more open affair and on 112 minutes Mark Dancer netted his first goal for the club with a header from a corner. Both sides then had chances to prevent penalties the best probably being the visitors forcing a fine save by Kearn on 118 minutes.
So to penalties; Penalty expert Paul Rideout scored easily and Totton hit the post with their first effort but from then on it was all down hill for Church. Ben Osborne first attempt was saved by the keeper but was ordered to be re-taken as he had moved and his second attempt was blazed over the bar and could well have ended up at the Avon Causeway. This was followed by Joe Kittle and Scott Sanderson efforts being saved and the visitors netting all their 3 efforts to finish with a score line of 3-1.
SATURDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2010
Alresford Town 0-0 Lymington Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
Alresford did well to cling on for a point from a dour match which they played nearly half of with just ten men on the field.
Tigerish midfielder Adrian de la Nougerede was the player sent off, being shown his second yellow card for a foul just two minutes after the half-time break.
The hosts, missing regular starters Danny Edwards, Dean Cole, Kieran Gallagher, Tom Donaldson and Danny Barber, fielded a patched-up side and, as they have done regularly in recent matches, failed to make the most of their scoring opportunities. James Davis set up Warren Bentley for a shot as early as the second minute, but Luke Ansell bravely blocked the Alresford man's shot. Joe Wright then headed over the bar, and Lymington keeper Ryan Gosney saved well from Scott Waters after good work by Bentley and Simon Everett.
With Bentley and Everett playing creative football in the middle of the park the Magpies looked the better side, but Gosney saved again at Bentley's feet as the hosts searched in vain for the opening goal.
Lymington's best chance came on 37 minutes when John Howard crossed from the right, but Craig Light volleyed wide on the stretch at the far post.
Alresford suffered a blow just before the break when centre-back Mike Rayner limped off injured, to be replaced by Fergus Neil; Wright moved to centre-back, alongside the impressive Graham Bird, while Neil slotted in at left-back and hardly put a foot wrong for the remainder of the match. Lymington almost snatched a goal while the home side were reorganising themselves, but Light was again off target when well placed.
The second half was less of a spectacle than the first. With de la Nougerede off the pitch Lymington looked to exploit the gaping hole in the middle of the hosts' midfield, but although they had the bulk of the possession Dan Chapman in the home goal was rarely threatened. Chapman did make one save with his legs from Darren Ritchie, who had worked his way into the Alresford box with the aid of a crisp one-two, while the Lymington front-runners did their side no favours by continually straying into offside positions.
The Magpies gave a run-out to subs Haydn Gregory and James Knight in the closing stages, but neither was able to make a telling impact on the game. Alresford were content to pocket a point at the end of a testing afternoon, while Lymington rarely looked capable of breaching an Alresford rearguard that was, for a change, as solid as a rock.
Fleet Spurs 5-1 Amesbury Town (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Kennels Lane
This was a remarkable result from a very strange game.
The first half was dull, dull, dull - a prolonged yawn. Both sides gave the ball away far too easily, and although Amesbury played what football there was, neither goalkeeper had a proper save to make.
The second half started a little brighter, and on the hour mark, Mark Appleby could only push out a free-kick from the left wing and the unmarked Dean Hancock volleyed home at the far post to give the visitors the lead. There then followed five Spurs' goals in eight minutes. First of all, twenty minutes from the end, Tom Chillery equalised from close range with his normally unfavoured right foot after the ball had bounced around the Town box as if in a pinball machine. Then Sam Knowles went clear on goal but pulled his shot wide of the far post. This gave no hint of what was to come. One minute later Knowles fastened on to a long hopeful through ball to chip the ball over the advancing Tom Robinson to give Spurs the lead. A minute later came a copy cat goal as Knowles ran on to a long punt from Stuart Tanfield to beat Robinson in identical fashion. Fleet had now decided that the normally abhorrent route one football was the key to their success today, as only another minute had elapsed when the Amesbury defence made an almighty horlicks of another long ball leaving the amazed Knowles with the ball on the penalty spot and no defender in sight. The tall striker walked the ball into the unguarded net. Three minutes later Chillery was fouled in the box but managed to keep on his feet and get a shot in, which was kicked off the line by a Town defender. However, referee Steve Wade correctly decided that no advantage had accrued and Knowles completed the scoring from the spot with a strong low shot to Robinson's right for his fourth goal in six minutes.
There was still time for young Ben Clisby to be sent off in stoppage time for a petulant hack at an Amesbury defender.
After his four goals Sam Knowles is now the top scorer in the division with nineteen league goals in twelve games.
Newport (IOW) 1-3 Christchurch (Premier Division)
By MARK DUFFY at St George's Park
Christchurch returned from the Island with all 3 points in a match that was basically settled on 32 minutes when the hosts were reduced to 9 men with 2 players being sent off.
The game started evenly but Newport came came close to opening the scoring on 8 minutes when a fierce free kick from an acute angle hit the post and on 10 minutes they did score when Church failed to deal with a long throw and Matt Evans scored with a spectacular overhead kick giving Stewart Kearn no chance.
Church then had a good 10-15 minute spell with pacy youngsters Griffin and Dickenson causing trouble on the flanks especially the latter who on 3 separate occasions put in crosses but nobody was able to put the finishing touches to. The deciding matter to the game came on 32 minutes when the speedy Dickenson played a one two with Ben Osborne and was fouled inside (well according to the referee) the box resulting in the defender being dismissed. This however was not the end of the matter as a number of home players argued with the referee resulting in another dismissal. After the second player was sent off the referee consulted his linesman, an act which perhaps should have happened earlier and all the resulting mayhem may have been avoided. In the absence of penalty king Paul Rideout, Ben Osborne (having missed his last penalty) took control and scored emphatically. On the stroke of half time Church took the lead when Osborne met a Dickenson corner and netted with a superb header and I doubt if the opposition had all 11 players on the pitch if it would have been prevented.
The second half was for obvious reasons a case of Church keeping the ball but to Newport's credit they worked very hard and a number of chances came and went and it was not until the 80 minute that Osborne or was it an own goal completed his hat trick with a finish from 10 yards. There was still time for Dickenson to hit the bar and the home side to have really their only effort on goal on 88 minutes which was well saved by Kearn.
To sum up a good solid performance but in reality only one result was possible after the two sending off but I hope our players learn the lesson that there is no point at all in arguing with officials as the game could have been a much closer affair if the home side had kept 10 players on the pitch.
Pewsey Vale 0-2 Andover New Street (Division One)
By JEFF MATTHEWS at The Recreation Ground
A below par Pewsey Vale lost their fourth match of the season to visitors Andover New Street, who were second from
the bottom of the league table, at the start of this match Andover played well above what their league table shows. Andover went into the break at 1-0,when on the 36th minute the Vale lost the ball, in their visitors half, a run down the left side by Danny Sullivan, who crossed into the box, found Elliott Calpaldi, lurking in front of goal, leaving him the chance to turn the ball,out of reach of the Vale's keeper Richard Payne, into the top of the far corner of the net. The second half continued as in the first with the Vale having to do a lot of strong defending, but the visitors, struck again, to take the points away from the Vale,when Substitute Leom Edwards, knocked over Payne on the hour.
And as the game got nearer the final 15 minutes the Vale had to take a lot of Andover pressure. when Pewsey did put in an attack the visitors keeper Dave Tasker was there to deny them.
TUESDAY 26th OCTOBER 2010
Hamble ASSC 3-3 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Follands Park
There was drama even before the start, with the match referee refusing to get the match under way until the pitch had been re-marked. That caused a delay of 20 minutes. After the kick-off, both sides showed their attacking intentions straight away. Alresford had strong penalty claims after just two minutes when James Eyles' shot appeared to strike a Hamble arm, while at the other end Ashley Jarvis fired wide after a slip by Alresford centre-back Joe Wright.
The Magpies missed a golden opportunity to take the lead when Dean Cole rounded hosts' keeper Jon Webb and crossed low, but Danny Barber, under pressure from a defender, somehow missed an open goal. Webb was looking uncomfortable, and had a scare on 10 minutes when Barber floated over a left-wing corner and Waters' header rebounded to safety off of a post. But Waters went one better from the Magpies' next corner, on 11 minutes, beating Webb in the air and guiding his header into the net.
Hamble then enjoyed a spell of pressure, Jamie Musselwhite and Lloyd Webber both coming close. They drew level on 26 minutes when the visitors' defence left Ricky Rawlins free to head home a cross from the left wing.
On 38 minutes the home side edged ahead for the first time when Musselwhite slid in to finish off Jarvis's cross-shot at the far post after some well-worked football. But their lead only lasted for a minute. Alresford pulled it back to 2-2 with a move that came straight out of the text-book, Barber beating his full-back all ends up and speeding down the left wing before delivering a perfect cross. Waters needed no second invitation, meeting the ball with a perfect header that gave Webb no chance.
The second half began with Alresford again making the running. Eyles and Cole combined for Barber to fire across the face of goal, and Cole had a header on goal but couldn't get any power into his effort. But the visitors got their just rewards on 60 minutes when Webb pole-axed the irrepressible Barber as he tried to round his adversary. Webb got a hand to Cole's penalty, but couldn't stop Alresford from going 3-2 up.
Barber had a couple of chances to make the visitors' lead safe, but Webb in the home goal seemed determined to atone for his earlier errors and made some good stops. As the clock ticked on Hamble got more of a grip, playing some direct back-to-front football, and equalised on 79 minutes when James Bull headed home off the near post from a left-wing corner.
Both sides pushed for the winner in the closing stages but had to be content with a point each from a thoroughly entertaining match despite the miserable conditions.
SATURDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2010
AFC Portchester 4-0 Amesbury Town (Division One)
By MARK HILTON at the Wicor Recreation Ground
A devastating 20 minute spell at the start of the second half saw Portchester ease to victory against Amesbury. A hat trick from captain Nev Farley, including two penalties sealed victory. The first half was fairly even which both sides having chances and the 0-0 score was a fair reflection. After 5 minutes Craig Wheeler hit the post for the Blues before Portchester had a couple of chances, one was a cross from the right that Horner cleared and then a Mark Collis free kick was saved by Tom Robinson diving to his left. Amesbury came back on the quarter hour when Horner played the ball up the right hand side to Danny Finnigan who came inside and his shot was saved by Karl Watson diving full stretch to his right. This was followed by a Nathan Jones pass to Finnigan whose shot was this time deflected for a corner.
On 18 minutes Jay Ripiner got clear but Tom Robinson was out quickly to thwart the Portchester forward with his feet. A minute later Ripiner turned provider for Simon Woods whose cross just evaded Nick Howe as he slid in at the far post.
On 33 minutes a free kick on the edge of the box for Portchester saw Lee Bedden set up Nev Farley but he sliced his shot well wide. Amesbury were then forced to make a change when Craig Wheeler limped off to be replaced by Tom Plant.
On 42 minutes a Ben Pulling shot from the centre circle flew just over the bar before a ball came in to the Portchester box for Dale Clark to knock the ball over from 6 yards. Right on half time Bedden whipped a free kick in to Mark Collis but his headed didn't have enough power to trouble Robinson in the Amesbury goal.
AFC Portchester started the 2nd half strongly and scored immediately.
Simon Woods got clear and forced the ball home to put the home side 1-0 ahead. It took just 4 minutes for Portchester to double their lead. A mis-timed tackle just inside the area saw captain Nev Farley step up to give Robinson no chance and put Portchester 2-0 ahead.
Amesbury came back 5 minutes later when Finnigan did well to laid the ball off to Garath Horner whose shot went wide. A minute later Ben Pulling and Danny Finnigan combined to set up Nathan Jones but his shot went wide.
On 61 minutes Portchester increased their lead. Brad Stokes played the ball to Simon Woods and he found Nev Farley who fired into the bottom right hand corner for 3-0.
2 minutes later another penalty was awarded after a challenge in the box and Captain Nev Farley stepped up to make no mistake and complete his hat trick.
Amesbury nearly got a consolation on 66 minutes when Ben Pulling set up Nathan Jones but his shot was saved by Portchester keeper Watson who was determined to keep a clean sheet.
AFC Portchester then kept up the pressure on the Amesbury defence but they held firm for the final 20 minutes to limit the damage to a final score of 4-0.
East Cowes Vics 1-2 Fleet Spurs (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Beatrice Avenue
Spurs crossed to the Isle of Wight to gain their first league victory for four games thanks to two second-half headers.
After a slow beginning by both sides, the visitors gradually got on top, cleverly mixing their normal passing game with long balls behind the Vics defenders. Spurs dominated possession for the first half hour, and although they had most of the few real chances fell, they could not convert any. The island side were not completely out of the game, and the visiting supporters had cause for concern on a number of occasions when the Fleet defence lost concentration and gave the ball away in dangerous positions. However at the break, Spurs felt a little disappointed that their greater share of possession had not led to any tangible result.
The second half was more even with East Cowes keeping the ball better. As the game opened up both sides created opportunities, until on the hour mark a fine Matt Voyce cross from the left picked out George Short who gave Fleet the lead with an accurate glancing header. Quarter of an hour later later, Alex Harvey scored a typical poacher's goal as he diverted a wayward shot past the helpless Mark Appleby to equalise. Ten minutes from the end, Sam Knowles notched his fourteenth league goal of the season when he leapt highest to nod home an inswinging Luke Thorn corner from the right-wing. Although Vics laid siege to the Spurs goal for the rest of the game, the visitors' defence held firm. Indeed Fleet might have scored again on the break as East Cowes pressed forward, but they were pleased to hear the final whistle that meant that they returned to the mainland with the three points that they just about deserved on the balance of play.
Hayling United 2-3 Winchester City (Premier Division)
By GRANT PAYNE at Hayling College
Zach Glasspool was the hero Saturday as Winchester City produced an outstanding comeback from 2-0 down to secure a 3-2 win against Hayling United in the Wessex Premier league.
Nathan Lynch and Danny King brought City level after Tom Wray and Lenny Burns had given the home side a two goal advantage. But Glasspool grabbed the headlines, scoring with just eight minutes left of normal time.
Winchester dominated the first half with several shots on target, but goalkeeper Chris Clarke was proving to be an obstacle that the attackers couldn't get past.
Nathan Lynch and Sol Asajile both had shots that sailed wide for City, but Zach Glasspool gave the keeper a challenge with two attempts within two minutes, the first being saved by Clarke, and the second being deflected out of play.
United was still providing an attacking threat and Scott O'Rourke had to be alert. Josh Warren gathered the ball before unleashing a shot that looked destined for the top corner but for O'Rourke to climb high and deny Warren from breaking the deadlock.
Both Lynch and Glasspool had another shot each, both failing to get past the ‘keeper and Tom Dunford made himself noticed with a shot just over the crossbar.
Hayling also attempted to open the scoring, with an impressive overhead kick from Peter Murphy that soared just over the crossbar. The first half ended goalless; with the fans unable to predict what a goal-fest would ensue in the second half.
The home side couldn't have got off to a better start after the interval by breaking the deadlock within the first 3 minutes. Tom Wray was the man of the moment, sprinting through the City defence before coolly slotting home with O'Rourke helpless to prevent the opener. Winchester could have equalised soon after, but lady luck was smiling down on the hosts as Hayling flicked a City corner onto their own crossbar. Only 4 minutes later United doubled their advantage after Lenny Burns managed to tap in another goal during a scramble in the box, taking the home team into a 2-0 ahead.
Winchester looked like a beaten side but with Guy Butters in charge, the team had inherited a ‘never say die' attitude.
This came apparent as Nathan Lynch's talent came to the fore as he was able to finish giving Winchester a foothold in the game. Captain Liam Crook attempted to draw City level and substitute Juevan Spencer ran in to try and add a spark to proceedings, but the ‘keeper reacted well to both attempts, rushing to collect the ball before it crossed the line. The dynamic of the game changed dramatically with Danny King scoring his first goal this season, latching onto a corner that the left-back fired in off the far post bring the visitors level. And it only took City 90 seconds to prove their superiority and completing a fine comeback. And it was Zach Glasspool who was the hero, tapping home from close range to complete a victory that could prove critical come the end of the season. Hayling were unable to cause any more real threat to Winchester, and City was able to hang on to their fourth victory over United in just eight weeks.
Ringwood Town 2-1 Tadley Calleva (Division One)
By JY TAYLOR at Long Lane
Ringwood Town FC entered the game still missing key players in Dan Marks, Stuart Brown, Mark Burrett and Charlie Pierson but did welcome new signing Martin Rogers onto the bench and Carl Fleet back into the starting line-up.
The opening 15 minutes was all Ringwood, but once again the lack of a striker in form was evident as, firstly Fleet missed two good chances and then Danny Taylor headed tamely over from a good Howes free-kick. Old looked particularly dangerous on the right but even when he found a decent ball across the box, Yeats couldn't make a connection.
The best chance of the half however fell to Tadley. On 20 minutes a sweeping move took the ball from their right to left side of the pitch. With Ringwood caught flat-footed the cross came in but somehow the visiting forward managed to glance his header wide of the far post when it seemed easier to score.
This was to be Tadley's only real chance of the half as Ringwood soared forward again. Homer looked dangerous with a number of mazy runs, one of which ended at the feet of Fleet, who again wasted the opportunity from 18 yards. Moments later Fleet saw his speculative 35 yard effort go safely wide.
On 37 minutes Homer looked as though he would pull the hosts level. Put through on goal the usually calm winger dragged his shot and forced a reasonable save out of the oncoming stopper. In fact the closest Ringwood came to scoring in the first half was from keeper Page. On the stroke of half-time his huge kick saw his opposite number come for the ball. However the Tadley defender managed to get a touch on the ball and deflect it wide of his keeper who only just managed to get back to the goal-line in time.
Half-time: 0-0
Within seconds of the restart Ringwood found themselves chasing the game. An innocuous looking through ball from the visitors seemed easy for centre-half Tom Yeats to deal with. However the usually dependable defender made a terrible error in trying to control the ball and allowed the visting forward to nip in behind him and score past a helpless Page.
For a moment it seemed as though Ringwood would once again fall foul of not taking chances earlier in the game. A cry for handball in the penalty area was waved away but finally the breakthrough came on 55 minutes. Bladen missed from point blank range but Homer was following up and his cross was headed home from inside the 6 yard box by Fleet.
Ringwood now went in search of the winner. Danny Taylor created for Bladen but again the striker looked wanting for some shaprness as he slashed his left foot effort well wide. On 65 minutes Bladen again got himself into a great position as he adjusted himself for Old's cross well. But, despite some quality chest control, the striker could only drag his volley into the ground and straight into the keepers hands.
Bladen did however play his role in the winner. An attack down the left saw the ball played into Bladen who, initially found the ball stuck under his feet. However some quick adjustment enabled him to slot the ball to his left for Homer to slot the ball through the keepers legs and into the net.
As Tadley began to tire, Ringwood introduced Chattey and new signing Rogers into the fray. Rogers looked lively in midfield and he nearly created a third for Ringwood with a strong run into Tadley's back four. His final pass to Homer was inch perfect and the little winger chipped the ball beautifully over the on-rushing keeper only to see the linesman's flag raised, somewhat dubiously it has to be said.
Tadley had a late flurry with a couple of corners but it would have been an injustice for them to take a point despite the somewhat ugly performance from the home side.
Shaftesbury 0-4 Andover New Street
By JOHN GORMAN at Cockrams
New Street moved off the bottom of the table with a display that belied their position and settled the game in a rather one sided second half after the home side had failed to take their chances in a first half that was much more even.
An early Shaftesbury free kick bounced off the defensive wall for a corner from which Luke Crane sent a free header wide before Danny Sullivan put the ball in the net from a Vince Rusher free kick at the other end only to be adjudged offside. Confusion in the home defence saw Hookins clear off the line after a headed back pass bounced over goalkeeper Phillips before the visitors took the lead after 17 minutes with a goal of high quality. Pa Touray, playing in the centre of the defence, carried the ball forward,and exchanged passes with Nic Oliver before finding Sullivan on the left side of the area and the shot curled past Phillips into the far top corner. Rusher was too high with a free kick from the edge of the "D" and Cutler saw a shot deflected over the bar at the other end before New Street enjoyed a slice of luck as Matley and goalkeeper Tasker both failed to make contact with a through ball that eventually rolled just the wrong side of the post. The home side enjoyed a spell of pressure as the half neared its end but Cutler headed over from inside the six yard box and Ford sent a similar chance straight into Taskers arms. Rusher and Sedu carved out a chance for Xamelia but the big striker failed to make contact with the cross and the last attack of the half saw the home side have a penalty appeal turned down after claiming the ball had made contact with a New Street arm.
Crane produced a dangerous cross on the re-start that the visitors cleared with difficulty but within two minutes the advantage was doubled as an Oliver throw found Rusher in the area and the player manager beat Phillips from close range. A determined break by Ford was stopped by weight of numbers and Tasker saved from the same player from close range before New Street scored again midway through the half. Liam Edwards came on for Xamelia and immediately broke down the left, Rusher played the cross into Sedu's path and though Phillips blocked the first effort the New Street midfielder steered the rebound into the net. Another Edwards cross was only inches away from Capel and after Phillips had held a long range effort from Touray the clearance was played back into the area and Rusher coolly claimed his second of the afternoon leaving a game that was already virtually over to drift to a finish - New Street in control and Shaftesbury unable to create any clear cut chances.
TUESDAY 19th OCTOBER 2010
East Cowes Vics 1-3 Winchester City (League Cup)
By GRANT PAYNE at Beatrice Avenue
Zach Glasspool scored a brace and youngster Juevan Spencer got on the score sheet as Winchester City ran out 3-1 winners against East Cowes Victoria in the Sydenhams League Cup. Glasspool starting up front scored either side of a Keiran Sainsbury equaliser before Spencer, who had been promoted from the under 18's, flicked home just seconds after coming on. Winchester fans would have been forgiven for being skeptical about the trip to the Isle of Wight after their disappointing defeat to Hallen in the Fa Cup when the team had to travel to Bristol. But those fears would have been dashed early on as Glasspool broke the deadlock after just 5 minutes. It was a goal all of his own making as he swivelled in the box to beat his man before firing home into the far corner to put the visitors ahead. City was strong and winning all of the fifty-fifty challenges and The Vics seemed unable to cope with the strength that Winchester possessed. But like so many times this season it was a lapse in concentration that allowed the hosts back into the game after half an hour. The referee gave a slightly harsh penalty after a tussle in the box and Keiran Sainsbury stepped up with the chance to level proceedings. But Scott O'Rourke got down brilliantly to deny Sainsbury but his save was in vain as the referee ordered a re-take as O'Rourke was adjudged to have come off his line. Sainsbury coolly stepped up a second time and slotted his penalty the same way to bring the scores level. This re-ignited Winchester and they reacted well by having a couple of long range efforts that tested the East Cowes 'keeper. But City had the lead again five minutes before the interval. Sol Asajile ran at the defence and a ricochet fell to Glasspool who had clearly brought his shooting boots across the sea and slotted past the on-rushing 'keeper. City came out just as strong in the second half and after rain in the first, was testing the opposition with low fizzing shots without any real penetration. As the half wore on and Gary Fulker coming close with two free kicks, it seemed that The Vics had run out of steam. City's superiority told with ten minutes to go. Guy Butters brought on Juevan Spencer and it turned out to be an inspired substitution as the young starlet scored within seconds of his entrance. Nathan Lynch showed his strength, getting away down the left before firing the ball across the six yard box and Spencer flicking home from close range.
SATURDAY 16th OCTOBER 2010
Amesbury Town 5-4 East Cowes Vics (Division One)
By MARK HILTON at Bonnymead Park
A win for Amesbury Town took them off the bottom of the league but whilst cruising at 3-0 East Cowes fought back and nearly snatched a draw. Danny Finnigan's four goals were enough to edge it for the Blues. Amesbury dominated the first half and as early as the 6th minute a fine move involving Tom Wheeler, Toni Camilleri, Craig Wheeler and Luke Scott saw Scott clear the bar with his 2nd shot after his first was blocked. 2 minutes later the Blues were forward again when Nathan Jones found Toni Camilleri whose cross shot was just over the bar. On 12 minutes Amesbury took a deserved lead when Liam Rogers drop kick cleared the defence and Danny Finnigan lobbed the ball over advancing Shane East. On the quarter hour Craig Wheeler's run and shot wide whilst Gareth Horner's free kick four minutes later was headed towards goal by Neil Sole but East managed to palm it away. On the half hour Finnigan had another couple of chances, one shot hitting the crossbar and another just over the bar. He got his, and Amesbury's reward on 37 minutes when Nathan Jones in swinging corner found Finnigan on the far post and he headed home. Amesbury nearly went 3-0 before half time but a Danny Finnigan cross was blocked by Brian Attril before Craig Wheeler could guide the ball home and the final attack of the half was also the Blues when Gareth Horner, making his 299th appearance, had a cross shot just clearing the bar. Just one minute into the 2nd half Finnigan turned provider for Craig Wheeler when he got down the right and crossed for Wheeler to slot home for 3-0. Those who thought the game was over were in for a shock. East Cowes brought on Joe Tigwell to replace Adam Gifford and moved Kai Barnes to left back. This changed the Vics completely and they immediately had a couple of chances. Freedie Knowles found Alex Harvey and his little lob beat Liam Rogers but just missed the post whilst Knowles also had a lob go over the bar. On 56 minutes Vics got a goal back when John McKie's long ball found Keelan Sainsbury who headed home. Within 10 minutes Alex Harvey took advantage of an error of judgment by Liam Rogers in the Blues goal and had a simple task of tapping home into an empty net. Vic tails were really up and Blues were all over the place. A shot by Simon Williams nearly caught out Rogers but he recovered to smother the shot on 70 minutes. Five minutes later is was all square, first a free kick by Barnes evaded everyone but went out for a goal kick and then on 76 minutes a ball through the defence found Alex Harvey who ran on to slot home and send the Vic players wild. This seemed to be what Amesbury needed as a minute later Finnigan battled against a couple of challenges but managed to keep the ball and placed the ball past keeper East. This seemed to take the wind out of the East Cowes sails and Finnigan scored another on 83 minutes. He got clear on the right and lobbed advancing East for 5-3. With a minute remaining East Cowes came back when McKie gained control from the Amesbury midfield and found a way to squeeze the ball through to the bottom corner for 5-4. The last chance was to go to East Cowes but they were unable to make it pay when Barnes free kick was plucked out of the air by Liam Rogers much to most of the 47 crowd.
Brading Town 1-1 Christchurch (Premier Division)
By MARK DUFFY at The Peter Henry Ground
In a tight entertaining game Church came back from the island with a hard earned point and in the process halted the home sides 100% start to the season.
The game started slowly but it soon became evident that youngster Ben Dickenson would be a threat as his pace started to cause problems in the home defence and on18 minutes a superb 60 yard run and cross shot was narrowly missed by Joe Kittle 6 yards from goal. It was Kittle who on 22 minutes set up Burt for a shot that was well saved by the Brading keeper. The Church back four and midfield were working hard to thwart the home attack and they were restricted to long range efforts which did not unduly trouble Kearn in the Church goal. It was Dickenson again who after another fine run on 31 minutes had the ball taken away from him by Kittle when he was well placed and it was fitting that these two were responsible for the goal after 44 minutes when Dickenson chased what looked like a lost cause and crossed for an unmarked Kittle to net from close range. This was good reward for Kittle as his strength and power in the air had unsettled the Brading defence throughout.
The second half started in a similar vein to the first but it was a shock when the hosts equalised on the hour mark when a hopeful punt from the left wing ended in the back of the net with keeper Kearn complaining that he was fouled when attempting to gather the ball. The remaining 30 minutes flew by with both sides looking for a winner and Kearn made 2 good saves in the space of 30 seconds whilst at the other end substitute Dave Ewen was put through but his weak shot was easily saved. Injury time resulted in Church being camped in the homes side penalty area with 3 corners and a free kick resulting but being well defended.
Church can take heart from this performance as Brading could well be this seasons surprise package and certainly look set for a top 6 finish. It was also very pleasant for the home supporters to compliment Christchurch on the way they played unlike the other unbeaten side in the league and also to see Marc Burrows parents.
Laverstock & Ford 3-2 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By GREG BOUGHTON at The Dell
The Magpies created enough chances to win half-a-dozen games of football at Laverstock's Dell ground last Saturday afternoon. But a mixture of wayward finishing, gritty last-gasp defending by the hosts and some lax moments at the back somehow managed to turn what could have been a comfortable victory into a defeat.
The Laverstock defence contributed their first clearance off the line, from Dean Cole's shot, as early as the first minute. Home keeper Luke Haviland then made a marvellous save from Scott Waters' goalbound header and then tipped over Warren Bentley's fierce drive.
Laverstock took the lead on 23 minutes when the Alresford defence were guilty of playing to the linesman's flag rather than the referee's whistle. Kent Kauppinen - who wasn't the player flagged offside - ran through a static defence, dribbled round keeper Dan Chapman and gave his side a rather fortuitous lead.
Alresford levelled on 40 minutes from a right-wing corner. The home keeper and two defenders got in a tangle at the near post and could only help the ball on into the middle, where James Davis headed his fifth goal in three games.
But the Magpies were only on level terms for two minutes, Kauppinen heading a long throw-in into the bottom corner of the goal to put the hosts 2-1 up.
Alresford were incensed a minute later when Danny Barber had only Haviland to beat in a one-on-one. The keeper initially made a good save, but then brought Barber crashing to the ground as the Alresford man whipped the ball away. It looked a certain penalty, but the referee disagreed and the visitors trooped off at half-time convinced they had been robbed.
Alresford had another penalty shout - this time for hand ball - turned down early in the second half, but pulled it back to 2-2 on 48 minutes when Cole's shot came back off the post and Kieran Gallagher's follow-up header hit the underside of the bar, bounced over the line and back out again; the linesman was perfectly placed to make the correct decision.
After that Alresford swarmed forward, missing chance after chance. Cole hit the post with Haviland grounded from an earlier save, while Waters had a ‘goal' ruled out for offside and then hit the bar from close range. Gallagher's shot was then blocked on the line by Kyle Tryhorn as the Magpies pressed for the winner.
But the winner, on 86 minutes, came from Laverstock. Again the goal was crafted from a long throw, which was knocked on for Dean Smith to hit the post with his initial shot before comfortably slotting home the rebound. There was still time for Cole to see another piledriver tipped over by Haviland and Davis to have a shot cleared off the line before the final whistle drew the curtain on an immensely entertaining - and immensely frustrating match.
Downton 4-1 Fleet Spurs
By JOHN PORTER at the Brian Whitehead Sports Ground
Despite the score-line, this was a much better performance by a Fleet side that competed bravely throughout the game but on the day were no match for an excellent Downton outfit.
Spurs barely saw the ball in the first quarter of an hour, and when they did, gave it away far too easily, though Downton deserve credit for denying the visitors space. Fleet then began to get into the game, but as so often seems to happen this was the cue for Downton to score after 25 minutes when Declan McGregor netted with a typical poacher's finish after the ball had run loose in the Spurs box. It was a big surprise when six minutes before the break Matt Voyce was brought down on the very edge of the box, giving Fleet their first real chance. Sam Knowles made no mistake from the spot, and although Downton attacked for the next few minutes, the half-time whistle sounded with the scores even, an improbable outcome to the half.
The second half started in much the same vein, though Spurs looked dangerous on their rare breaks, but not long after the hour mark, Nick Turpin gave Downton the lead with a hooked volley after keeper Mark Appleby had made a good stop with his feet. The next two goals were even better, Ben Halski putting the game beyond Spurs' reach with an exquisite lob and Daniel Gain completed with a fine volley from the edge of the box after Spurs had only half-cleared the ball.
Totton & Eling 1-2 Hamworthy United
By ROGER NICHOLSON at Little Testwood Farm
For the third game running the Hammers had to come from behind to win the match. Only two points separated the two teams before the start, and so a close game was always on the cards. Totton & Eling were playing their first game on their brand new pitch, and were eager to get off on a winning start. Michael White and Max Crow returned to the starting line up and Stewart Cannie and Ryan Murray were back in the squad after missing the last game. Manager Simon Browne also retuned to take the reins.
On a perfect playing surface both teams started at pace, and both had chances to take an early lead. It was the Home side who had the best of these, but twice failed to hit the target when through on goal in the first few minutes. Luke Burbidge came close to opening the United account with a dipping shot that was going just under the cross bar until the Totton Keeper Sam Webb pushed it onto the bar and over. Play was very even between the two teams and shifted from end to end very quickly, but neither side was able to put the finishing touches to their often very good build up. Aaron Corby had the ball in the net for the Hammers, but he was ruled off side by the Referee's Assistant. It was Totton and Ealing who opened the scoring after thirty one minutes. Dan Ackerman did get down and push the first attempt away. Unfortunately the ball was picked up by a Totton Striker on the edge of the six yard box, and he had the simple job of picking his spot and finding the empty net to make it 1-0. As half time approached Hamworthy were given the golden opportunity to draw level when a defender under pressure handled the ball, and they were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately Max Crow blasted the ball high over the bar from the spot kick.
United started the second half much better than the Millers, and were soon pressing for an equaliser. The Referee waved away what looked to many to be a stone wall penalty when Luke Burbidge was upended in the box. They did not have to wait long however to get the equaliser their play deserved all be it perhaps a little fortunately. Sam Webb appeared to slip as he came to collect a Richard Jackson cross which evaded him and found the top corner of the net instead. The Hammers twice went close to taking the lead as they continued to have the edge in play. A brilliant through ball from Aaron Stacey put Aaron Corby through one on one with the Keeper. After taking the ball wide of Webb, the United man missed the far post with his shot,when it looked easier to score. Luke Burbidge missed in an almost identical manner, but he did make amends in the seventy sixth minute with a brilliant finish to take the lead. As the game neared its closure Totton & Ealing began to throw more men forward in attempt to get something from the game, but risked getting caught on the break. The Hamworthy defence held firm and never really looked like conceding an equaliser despite the extra pressure in the remaining minutes. They were also helped by some inept finishing by the Millers who never really tested Dan Ackerman in that time.
TUESDAY 13th OCTOBER 2010
Alresford Town 2-0 Winchester Castle (North Hants Senior Cup)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
James Davis brought his personal tally to four goals in four days with a double strike in this North Hants Senior Cup game against Hampshire Premier League opponents Castle.
The Magpies had beaten Castle 8-1 in the same competition last season, and had just come off the back of a big Wessex League victory. But any thoughts they had of getting through this tie at a canter were soon dispelled. Castle worked hard, did the simple things well and for eighty minutes matched the hosts. It was only in the closing stages that Alresford were able to make their pedigree tell.
Castle, who are enjoying a fruitful season in the league - they are currently third in the table - posed problems through big centre-forward John Wanless and left winger Ben Seymour. Alresford struggled to get their passing game together, and there were few chances in the first half. Probably the closest either side came was when Davis burst through on the right on 37 minutes, drawing a good save from ex-Norwich City keeper Darren Crowfoot.
After the break the visitors came close through Peter Walker's strike from distance, while Scott Waters was prominent for the Magpies. He missed the target with a glancing header and then saw an intended cross bounce to safety off the crossbar with Crowfoot stranded.
Extra-time was beginning to look a possibility, but ten minutes from time Davis, who regularly turns out at left-back but has also shown himself to be a capable midfielder, capped a spell of home pressure with a neat header into the corner of the net.
Three minutes later Davis rubbed salt into Castle's wounds when Joe Wright's free kick was nodded on for him to chip over Crowfoot.
SATURDAY 10th OCTOBER 2010
Fawley AFC 1-6 Alresford Town (Premier Division)
By KEITH CURTIS at The Waterside Sports Club
Alresford's visit to newly-promoted Fawley on Saturday resulted in their biggest win since they joined the Premier Division - they found the net six times.
The home side's efforts were not helped by the dismissal of Elliot Earl as early as the 9th minute for bringing down Scott Waters just outside the box with only the keeper to beat. Alresford had enough chances in the first 25 minutes to pull out a commanding lead, but at first found it difficult to hit the target. However, the Magpies did find the net in the 35th minute when, following a period of pressure on the home goal, Simon Everett volleyed into the roof of the net from 20 yards.
Four minutes later James Davis broke into the box on the left and his shot into the far corner made it 2-0.
In the second half Alresford stepped up a gear. Dean Cole grabbed their third after 55 minutes, latching onto a through ball and rounding the keeper to maintain his recent scoring run.
Four minutes later Tom Donaldson got his name on the scoresheet, scoring at the far post following a flowing move down the left involving Waters and Cole. Then, a 61st-minute Warren Bentley free kick was met at the far post by the head of Davis, bringing him a second goal and Alresford their fifth.
Fawley reduced the deficit on 63 minutes when an innocuous shot from 20 yards by Lynskey somehow eluded Dan Chapman in the visitors' goal. But their faint hopes of a comeback were dashed when Sam Wyeth, having already been shown a yellow card, was given his marching orders for comments made to the referee.
The home side reverted to damage limitation, and were relatively successful; the only further goal came ten minutes from time when Danny Barber cut in from the left and drove the ball past the home keeper.
Chances continued to come and go, but in the end the Magpies were delighted with a big win that not only consolidates their mid-table position but also gives a healthy boost to their goal difference.
Fleet Spurs 1-2 Andover New Street (Division One)
By JOHN PORTER at Kennels Lane
After the excitement of Tuesday night's game at Moneyfields, this Spurs performance came as a great anti-climax, New Street triumphing with two goals in ten minutes either side of half-time.
Andover started off like a train, but Spurs soon took the initiative and began to get on top. However, they were unable to turn their superiority of possession into goals and New Street looked dangerous on the break, with the rapid Pamodou Touray causing the Fleet defence problems every time he had the ball. It was no real surprise when five minutes before half-time an astute pass by player-manager Vince Rusher found Touray unmarked in the box and the striker opened the scoring with a well-placed curling shot that gave keeper Jon Sheppard no chance.
Five minutes after the break, a fine through ball from Rusher picked out Touray who ran through, wrong-footed the Spurs defence and blasted the ball accurately past Sheppard to double New Street's advantage. Matt Moore's crossing from the right was impressive as Fleet pressed more and more and began to create a number of half-chances, but were not sharp enough to put them away. The Andover defence generally stood firm, though they needed some first-class saves from Cray Sams and on more than one occasion were rescued by the woodwork, until in injury time striker Sam Knowles finally forced the ball home with a left-foot lob from close range. Spurs continued to press, but were unable to score again and the game ended with New Street understandably jubilant and Fleet downcast.
Hamworthy United 5-2 Laverstock & Ford (Premier Division)
By ROGER NICHOLSON at The County Ground
Sean Bartlett took charge of the Team in the absence of Simon Browne who was off playing cricket in the West Indies. Michael White (family commitment) Max Crow (suspended) and Ryan Murray (recalled by Bashley) were not available for selection, but Hamworthy welcomed back Lee Diaper for his first match of the season. Once again the Hammers showed both sides of their game. In the opening twenty minutes of the first half they were awful, and deservedly found themselves two goals behind against a team that wanted the ball much more than they did. As the game progressed however United got better and better, so that by the end of the match they were playing the fast flowing football that they showed in their previous outing, and were rewarded with a well deserved win.
The Hammers began the game very sluggishly and were second best in most things. It took Laverstock and Ford only two minutes to take the lead when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area following a careless foul. Dan Ackerman could only watch as the ball was chipped over the wall and into the far corner of the net. As on previous occasions when things were not going right Hamworthy tended to play the ball long and in the air. Will Robinson almost equalised after seven minutes, but his shot just flashed past the foot of the post. Three minutes later United slipped further behind with yet another bit of catastrophic defending. Not for the first time this season it resulted from yet another under hit back-pass. Gradually the Hammers began to get their game together, and pulled a goal back on twenty five minutes through Aaron Stacey who was making his second start for the First Team. He did very well to keep his cool after taking the ball off the hesitant Laverstock Keeper to find the net just as he was being closed down by other defenders. United thought they had equalised when they again found the net,only for it to be ruled off side by the Referee's Assistant. Hamworthy were now very much back in the game, and did draw level five minutes before the break. Dan Haysom was on hand to get up and head home a corner that sent the Teams in all square at the break. This did not look at all possible after the first fifteen minutes of the game.
The Hammer came out after the break looking to take the game to Laverstock. It took them just three minutes to take the lead for the first time in the match, and this was scored by Lee Diaper. Hamworthy were now a lot more relaxed, and on top dominating play with their passing game that was now much more in evidence. It was only a matter of time before United increased the lead which they did when Luke Burbidge scored the goal of the game. He finished off an excellent passing move involving several United players with an unstoppable shot past Matt Baker the Laverstock keeper. The Visitors were awarded a penalty, but a fine save from Dan Ackerman diving to his right kept the two goal cushion. This and another excellent save soon after prevented any hope of a comeback for the Salisbury team. Another piece of fine Hamworthy play saw Aaron Stacey put in one on one with the Keeper. He did very well to draw the keeper before lobbing the ball over him into the empty net, only to find the goal had once again been ruled out for off side. The Hammers finished off a very good second half display with another well taken goal this time by sixteen year old substitute Jack Satterley. With five minutes remaining he burst into the penalty box, kept his marker at bay, and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper into the corner of the net for goal number five for United on the day. This made it thirteen goals for the Hammers in two games which must be a Club record.
TUESDAY 5th OCTOBER 2010
Alresford Town 3-2 East Cowes Vics (Hampshire Senior Cup)
By GREG BOUGHTON at Arlebury Park
Alresford made hard work of this Hampshire Senior Cup Round 2 match against Wessex 1 opponents Vics, but eventually won through to get the chance of a crack at one of the county's bigger clubs when the third round draw is published.
Vics fought hard throughout, giving a good impression with both their determination and their ethos of passing the ball and moving quickly. They had their first shot as early as the first minute, Joe Tigwell firing wide from distance.
Alresford then had several chances to take the lead, but neither James Eyles nor James David could direct their headers on target. Vics keeper Shane East made an excellent block to deny Scott Waters, who had broken through several tackles on his way through the middle.
The visitors took the lead on 39 minutes through Simon Williams, whose thumping far post header from a right-wing set piece gave Dan Chapman in the home goal no chance.
Soon after half-time Waters deflected the ball into the net from a Tom Donaldson shot, but was adjudged offside. The youngster came close again with a glancing header that was deflected straight to East, but on 55 minutes the Magpies equalised. Danny Barber was the man on target with a diving header at the far post from a Dean Cole cross. However, the Vics regained the lead almost straight away when John McKie's cross was tapped back into the middle by Kai Barnes for Alex Harvey to sidefoot home.
The home side were up against it, but kept knocking on the door. On 65 minutes their pressure told when a weak clearance fell to Donaldson who, quick as a flash, drove it past a ruck of players and into the top left corner for his first goal since joining the club.
With Simon Everett pulling the strings in midfield and Joe Wright and Danny Edwards looking increasingly assured at the back, Alresford now looked the likely victors. They grabbed the winner on 85 minutes through Cole, who thumped Donaldson's first-time knock-on past East and into the back of the net. It was the striker's sixth goal in as many games.
Moneyfields 3-2 Fleet Spurs (Hampshire Senior Cup)
By JOHN PORTER at Moneyfields Sports Ground
So near but yet so far for Spurs after a thrilling cup-tie that had everything.
The game started with Premier Division Moneyfields dominating play against their Division 1 opponents. The game seemed much faster than in Division 1 and Fleet initially struggled to keep up with their opponents. However, despite a number of crosses into the box from the home side, the Spurs defence were coping well and Moneyfields created very few actual goal chances. Spurs grew more comfortable as the game progressed and five minutes before half-time, Adam Crittenden was brought down in the box and Sam Knowles scored powerfully from the spot.
After the break, Moneyfields soon brought on two strikers, including top scorer Warren Hunt and soon and began to threaten the Fleet goal in earnest. Good defence, with Mark Appleby in goal outstanding with some first-class saves, and hard work throughout the team kept the Premier side at bay until with quarter of an hour to go, Jamie Hore headed in a right-wing cross to equalise. Moneyfields were now pressing relentlessly, but couldn't get the vital goal, so normal time finished with the teams all square.
The game was much more equal as the extra period started and after three minutes Crittenden put Knowles through on goal and the big striker made no mistake. Five minutes later, Fleet defender Dan Sleet was dismissed after an overenthusiastic but not malicious tackle in the centre circle, and Moneyfields began to turn the screw again, hitting the post with a thunderous drive with Appleby for once beaten. Spurs were now not surprisingly tired though it looked as if they might just hold out, but three minutes from the end, defender Owen Elias popped up in the Fleet box to smash the ball home from close range. As the rain began to pour down, penalties looked certain until on the stroke of 10.15 Hore picked up a loose ball and with the last kick of the match scooped the ball past Appleby, exactly as he intended (he claimed afterwards).
A very disappointing result for Spurs but an encouraging performance full of spirit and determination to give their loyal supporters a feeling of pride that almost matched their disappointment. All the Fleet players deserve praise, with particular mention for the bionic Jon Tanfield who ran himself into the ground for the team.
