LATE DRAMA IN TOP TWO BATTLE
October 5, 2022
AFC Portchester ousted Bemerton Heath Harlequins with an injury time winner on Tuesday evening, to maintain their 100 percent start to the campaign - at the expense of 'Quins own immaculate record.
Jake Raine struck in the third minute of added time to delight the majority of a season-high crowd of 552 at the OnSite Group Stadium, as both sides ended the top-of-the-table clash with ten men following second half dismissals.
Marley Ridge (pictured) gave Portchy the advantage early on, before George Higgins equalised for the visitors on the hour mark - but Portchester found a way to make it eight wins from eight.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, AFC Stoneham collected a clean sheet in a two goal victory at Hythe & Dibden, while Cowes Sports also chalked up three points in a 2-1 home success over Laverstock & Ford.
At the foot of the table, Blackfield & Langley earned their first point of the campaign with a goalless draw at Baffins Milton Rovers, to end their run of six straight defeats.
In Division One, their were home wins for Andover New Street (5-2 against Amesbury Town) and Downton at the top (3-0 at home to Fleetlands), while Totton & Eling came away from Kennels Lane with three points at bottom placed Fleet Spurs.
Fareham Town, US Portsmouth and Ringwood Town all progressed in the Wessex League Cup second round, while Tadley Calleva had too much for Bournemouth in the Hampshire Senior Cup, by virtue of a 3-0 score line.
In the Southampton Senior Cup, Alresford Town came out on top in an eight-goal thriller against AFC Netley, winning 5-3, with Brockenhurst having too much for AFC Stoneham's Reserves, winning 6-0. New Milton Town also progressed with ease, following their 8-1 demolition of Warsash Wasps.
Fawley AFC host Andover Town in Division One on Wednesday, while Whitchurch United welcome Hampshire League side, Winchester Castle to Longmeadow in the North Hampshire Senior Cup.
Article Photos: Daniel Haswell
We’re delighted to welcome Scorza as the Wessex League’s new Performance Partner. Scorza's wearable technology helps footballers turn their existing Apple Watch or Garmin into a football-specific performance tracker, providing insights including distance, sprints, heatmaps and heart-rate data. The new 2026/27 Laws of the Game permit players to wear a smartwatch in matches, provided it is not dangerous and is safely and securely covered. This means the smartwatch you already own can be turned into a pro tracker.
The Wessex League is encouraging its member clubs to explore the opportunities available through the Premier League Stadium Fund , which continues to invest in improving football facilities across England and Wales. Having invested more than £226 million into over 1,000 clubs , the Premier League Stadium Fund is helping transform the non-league matchday experience by supporting projects that enhance facilities for players, volunteers and supporters alike. Funding is available for a wide range of projects, including floodlights, spectator accommodation, pitch improvements, changing facilities, barriers and other essential infrastructure that helps clubs meet ground grading requirements and provide a better environment for their local communities. Clubs considering improvements to their facilities are urged to engage with the Fund at the earliest opportunity to discuss their project and determine eligibility. Investment in facilities not only strengthens clubs on matchdays but also helps secure their long-term future, enabling them to grow participation, improve accessibility and continue serving their local communities for years to come. For further information and to begin an application, visit the Premier League Stadium Fund website or speak to your County FA or League representative for guidance. Premier League Stadium Fund - Poster
AFC Stoneham have started the season where they left off the last - collecting more silverware in the form of the Wessex League Charity Cup, following a 3-1 success over Hamble Club. Proceeds from the occasion supported the Geoff Smith Legacy Fund - supporting young children in local communities on their football journeys, set-up in memory of the long-serving AFC Stoneham Chairman who sadly passed away in May. Kian Towse and Braydon Douglas gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage into the interval, before Harry Hamilton pulled one back for the League Cup winners without around ten left to play.
Premier Division fixtures have been released for August, in an opening month which includes FA Cup ties for our clubs. Hamble Club host the inaugural fixture of 2026/27 with Andover New Street the visitors on July 28, prior to a full schedule on August 1. Bashley hosting their first Wessex League game for four years, as they face Hamble. Horndean welcome Sherborne Town to Five Heads Park while new side, Sturminster Newton United welcome a returning Fareham Town. Meanwhile, promoted Fleetlands start life in Step 5 with a home fixture against Laverstock & Ford: Tuesday 28 th July PREMIER DIVISION Hamble Club v Andover New Street Saturday 1 st August PREMIER DIVISION Bashley v Hamble Club Bournemouth v Hythe & Dibden Cowes Sports v Brockenhurst Downton v Petersfield Town East Cowes Vics v Andover New Street Fleetlands v Laverstock & Ford Horndean v Sherborne Town Millbrook v Hamworthy Recreation Sturminster Newton United v Fareham Town You can see August's schedule in full via the link below: DOWNLOAD - PREMIER DIVISION - AUGUST FIXTURES The full season for the Premier Division will be released on Full-Time on Sunday. We expect to release Division One fixtures in full by w/c July 13. This is due to ground shares with clubs at Steps 3-4. Further updates will appear on Full-Time and on our X account .
Early round draws have been made for the Emirates FA Cup, FA Vase and FA Youth Cup involving Wessex sides, with details as follows: EMIRATES FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND Ties to be played on Saturday, August 8 Winners receive £1,125 Losers receive £375 Andover New Street v Christchurch Badshot Lea v Brockenhurst Bournemouth v Downton Cowes Sports v Hamble Club Devizes Town v Hamworthy Recreation East Cowes Victoria v AFC Stoneham Horndean v Hartley Wintney Laverstock & Ford v Eversley & California Millbrook v Bradford Town Paulton Rovers v Fleetlands Petersfield Town v Fareham Town Portland United v Sturminster Newton United Shepton Mallet v Bashley Sherborne Town v Baffins Milton Rovers Tadley Calleva v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Westbury United v Hythe & Dibden FAC EP - DRAW IN FULL EMIRATES FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND Ties to be played on Saturday, August 22 Winners receive £1,444 Losers receive £481 AFC Portchester v Westbury United or Hythe & Dibden Andover New Street or Christchurch v Shaftesbury Bournemouth or Downton v Millbrook or Bradford Town Cowes Sports or Hamble Club v Tadley Calleva or Bemerton Heath Harlequins Devizes Town or Hamworthy Recreation v Fleet Town or Melksham Town East Cowes Victoria or AFC Stoneham v Badshot Lea or Brockenhurst Moneyfields v Portland United or Sturminster Newton United Paulton Rovers or Fleetlands v Yateley United or Alton Petersfield Town or Fareham Town v Laverstock & Ford or Eversley & California Sherborne Town or Baffins Milton Rovers v Horndean or Hartley Wintney Weymouth v Shepton Mallet or Bashley FAC PR - DRAW IN FULL ISUZU FA VASE FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING Ties to be played on Saturday, August 15 Winners receive £550 Losers receive £160 Andover New Street v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Bashley v Blandford United Bridport v Folland Sports Bristol Telephones v AFC Aldermaston Clanfield v Romsey Town Cove v Laverstock & Ford Fareham Town v Baffins Milton Rovers Fleetlands v Wincanton Town Hamble Club v Cowes Sports Horndean v Totton & Eling Kintbury Rangers v Mangotsfield United Newport (IW) v Colden Common Pagham v Millbrook Sandhurst Town v Wokingham Town Selsey v Hamworthy United FAV 1Q - DRAW IN FULL ISUZU FA VASE SECOND ROUND QUALIFYING Ties to be played on Saturday, September 12 Winners receive £725 Losers receive £225 Bridport or Folland Sports v Alton or Badshot Lea Bristol Telephones or AFC Aldermaston v Newent Town or Almondsbury Camberley Town v Cove or Laverstock & Ford Clanfield or Romsey Town v Bournemouth East Cowes Victoria v Fleetlands or Wincanton Town Eversley & California or AEK Boco v Kintbury Rangers or Mangotsfield United Fareham Town or Baffins Milton Rovers v New Milton Town Fawley AFC v Ash United Frimley Green v Brockenhurst Hamble Club or Cowes Sports v Christchurch Hedge End Rangers v Horndean or Totton & Eling Pagham or Millbrook v Newport (IW) or Colden Common Petersfield Town v Andover New Street or Bemerton Heath Harlequins Ringwood Town v Selsey or Hamworthy United Sandhurst Town or Wokingham Town v Carterton or Wells City Sherborne Town v Bashley or Blandford United Whitchurch United v Midhurst & Easebourne or Warminster Town FAV 2Q - DRAW IN FULL FA YOUTH CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND Ties to be played in w/c August 31 Alton v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Bashley v AFC Portchester Gosport Borough v Fareham Town Hamworthy Recreation v Millbrook Portland United v Hamble Club Shaftesbury v Bournemouth Weymouth or Sholing v Christchurch Wimborne Town v Petersfield Town FAYC PR - DRAW IN FULL
The draw for the first and second rounds of the Wessex League Cup has been made, with ten ties scheduled (dates to be confirmed). FIRST ROUND: Ash United v Hamworthy Recreation Bashley v Romsey Town Blandford United v Cowes Sports Bournemouth Poppies v Kintbury Rangers Brockenhurst v Sandhurst Town Christchurch v Totton & Eling Fawley AFC v East Cowes Victoria Athletic Frimley Green v Fareham Town Sherborne Town v AFC Aldermaston Sturminster Newton United v Lymington Town SECOND ROUND: Ash United or Hamworthy Recreation v Baffins Milton Rovers Alresford Town v Whitchurch United Andover New Street v Brockenhurst or Sandhurst Town Bashley or Romsey Town v Ringwood Town Bournemouth Poppies or Kintbury Rangers v Sturminster Newton United or Lymington Town Colden Common v Christchurch or Totton & Eling Downton v Fleetlands Fawley AFC or East Cowes Victoria Athletic v Blandford United or Cowes Sports Frimley Green or Fareham Town v Cove Hamworthy United v New Milton Town Hedge End Rangers v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Hythe & Dibden v Hamble Club Laverstock & Ford v Amesbury Town Millbrook v Horndean Newport (IOW) v Folland Sports Petersfield Town v Sherborne Town or AFC Aldermaston
