FA CUP ROUND-UP

August 4, 2025

The Emirates FA Cup made a welcome return to Velocity Wessex League club schedules on Saturday, however it proved to be a challenging afternoon for many, with four of our sides guaranteeing themselves a Preliminary Round place on August 16.


Last season's Premier Division runners-up, AFC Stoneham, were looking to emulate last season's run to the Second Round Qualifying - with the Purps once again overcoming Fleet Town, 2-0 and booked another home date with Paulton Rovers next.


FA CUP - FIXTURES & RESULTS (Wessex League only)


Christchurch overcame returning Wessex side, Bemerton Heath Harlequins 3-0 at Hurn Bridge and will have home comforts once more in the Preliminary Round against Tadley Calleva, while in other all-Wessex affairs, New Milton Town came away from Andover New Street with a solitary goal to nil victory to set-up a meeting with Hythe & Dibden - themselves beating Portland United 3-1.

Above: Petersfield Town (in red) do battle with Thatcham Town in their Extra Prelininary Round tie at Waterside Park - the hosts ran out 2-0 victors (courtesy: Thatcham Town FC)


Baffins Milton Rovers, Cowes Sports and Laverstock & Ford will all try again on Tuesday night replays - Cowes and Laverstock a further all-Wessex tie which ended 2-2, while Baffins held Shaftesbury to a 1-1 draw at the PMC Stadium.


Hamworthy Recreation, East Cowes Victoria and Brockenhurst were all narrowly beaten against higher opposition in Hartley Wintney, Bashley and Moneyfields respectively.


Paulton Rovers progressed with single goal victory over Hamble Club; Westbury United hit Sherborne Town for seven, while Alton dispatched of Wincanton Town, 5-0.


Millbrook exited at Tadley Calleva by four goals to one, with Bournemouth also bowing out, 3-1 at Bradford Town.


Last season's Premier Division play-off winners, Fareham Town, got the better of Downton and will meet Hamworthy Recreation's conquerors, Hartley Wintney in the Preliminary Round.


Main Photo: courtesy Pitch Side Photo

VASE GLORY FOR STONEHAM

May 17, 2026
AFC Stoneham capped a historic campaign by beating Cockfosters in the Isuzu FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium. The Velocity Wessex League Premier Division champions triumphed 4-2 on penalties, after a ninety minutes of deadlock to conclude a quite remarkable season for James Phillips' side that yielded a total of four trophies.

CONSTITUTION - 2026/27

May 14, 2026
The FA have released NLS club allocations for Steps 1-6 (subject to appeal) for the 2026/27 season. It sees a return to the Wessex League Premier Division for Bashley, Fareham Town and Horndean - all rejoining us following their respective Step 4 relegations. Fleetlands make the step-up as champions of Division One, while Sturminster Newton United also feature following a lateral move from the Western League. Last season's champions, AFC Stoneham (Isthmian South Central) and runners-up, Portland United (Southern League South) have their promotions rubber-stamped. Wincanton Town are reprieved from relegation and take their place once more in the 22-team Premier Division.

PURPS ADD CUP DOUBLE

May 12, 2026
AFC Stoneham completed a quick-fire cup double to add to their Premier Division title, with victories in the Russell Cotes Cup and Southampton Senior Cups.

RAMS UPSET ROYALS IN PSC FINAL

May 9, 2026
Petersfield Town clinched the Portsmouth Senior Cup following a tense penalty shoot-out victory over AFC Portchester, on Friday night. Gav Spurway's Royals may wonder how this one got away, with the Isthmian South Central play-off side having the lions share of possession, while the Petersfield goal increasingly lived a charmed life as the game progressed.

MONKS LEAGUE CUP TRIUMPH

May 4, 2026
Hamble Club celebrated their second Velocity Wessex League Cup in three years after defeating Premier Division champions, AFC Stoneham by the odd goal in five at Downton on Bank Holiday Monday. Tyrrell Sampson put the Purps in the ascendency after fifteen, but it was short-lived as Matt Casey drilled home from the edge of the box shortly after to draw level. CUP FINAL - PROGRAMME DOWNLOAD Duarte Martins made no mistake from a loose ball to restore Stoneham's advantage going into the interval, before substitute, Chase Michel restored parity for a second time just before the hour mark with his first touch of the game.

YATELEY MARCH TO STEP 5

May 3, 2026
Yateley United's rise continued on Saturday, as they reached Step 5 for the first time in the club's short history in emphatic fashion, with 6-1 victory over Whitchurch United. A Wessex League season best crowd of 908 witnessed the Division One play-off final at Yateley's Sean Devereux Park - a venue hosting Step 7 football as recently as 2022/23 in the Thames Valley Premier. Read more in our latest Wessex Post Newsletter Both sides came through their respective midweek play-off semi-finals against Colden Common (2-1) and Folland Sports (0-1) respectively, but Yateley prevailed in the final courtesy of Lynford Sackey (2), Harvey Seeman, Tyler Robinson - and two in the closing moments from Josh Blackwood and Callum Scott to add gloss. James Batchelor's netted Whitchurch's reply with fifteen to go, to reduce the arrears to 3-1, but almost immediately after, Robinson restored the host's three-goal advantage. Our congratulations to Yateley United on your achievement, and commiserations to Whitchurch United. Photo: Greg Dickson
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