WEEKEND ROUND-UP - APRIL 2
Commiserations to Hamworthy United who went out of the FA Vase at the semi final stage by the cruellest way possible – the penalty shoot out. It really is a case of so near, yet so far.
Newport Pagnell were a goal ahead at the break only for Cameron Munn to equalise in the second half leading to the dreaded penalties in which the home side triumphed with a seven six outcome.
GALLERY: NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN v HAMWORTHY UNITED (by Ian Middlebrook)
Congratulations to the winners but it is a shame, for ALL Clubs, that the FA have diminished the latter stages of the competition by reducing the semi finals to one leg. One would have thought their remit was to encourage football not minimise it.
SILLS: LEAGUE FOCUS AFTER VASE AGONY
Hamworthy still top the Premier Division and their two closest rivals, Shaftesbury and Bashley, met at Cockrams with the visitors coming out on top thanks to second half goals from Lyle Simpson and Lewis Ross, a result that leaves the winners four points clear in second place.
Horndean remain in fourth place after a 4-0 defeat of Cowes Sports, the usual names on the scoresheet with Zak Willett claiming a hat trick and Connor Duffin adding the fourth.
Results have not been going Brockenhurst’s way of late and they were held to a one all draw at US Portsmouth after the home side’s Cameron Quirke cancelled out Joe Chamberlain’s early goal. AFC Stoneham complete the top six despite a perhaps surprising 2-0 defeat at Hythe and Dibden where Jo Tessem and Sam Boon were on target.
AFC Portchester continued their winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth courtesy of two goals from Lee Wort and one from Sam Pearce – Bailey Tabor with the Poppies consolation – while Moneyfields, in equally good form, won 4-0 at bottom Club Amesbury Town thanks to a double from Steve Hutchings backed up by strikes from Dec Seiden and Joe Briggs.
Six goals at Portland shared equally between the home side and visitors Fareham Town with Matt Burrows (2) and Gary Borthwick for Portland and Garry Moody, Jack Breed and Josh Benfield replying, all the goals coming in the second half. The match between Hamble Club and Alton was abandoned in the closing minutes after an injury to the home side’s Lewis Nagle and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.
In Division One the two leaders, Bemerton Heath and Follands, were not in action so attention focused on the remaining sides chasing promotion. Andover New Street remain in third place after a 7-0 defeat of Ringwood Town – hat tricks for Shane Lock and Ross Cook plus an own goal – and Newport stay fourth after a 3-0 defeat of Ash United at Smallbrook, Connor Kelly, Jordan Browne and Josh Younie with the goals.
Andover Town slipped to a three nil loss at New Milton with the goals from Chris Long, Callum Parnell and Tyrell Sampson all coming after the break and are now level on points with Laverstock and Ford following the Wiltshire side’s three one win at Whitchurch. Dec Shuttleworth gave the Jamboys the half time lead but two goals from Jim Ward and one from Lewis Wakeford ensured the visitors the points.
Millbrook enjoyed some relief from a losing run with a 3-1 win at East Cowes Vics after going a goal behind to a Toby Snow strike, before goals from Martyn Randall, James Whitlock and Wayne O’Dell gave them three welcome points. Romsey won three one at Fawley as goals from Jack Odam, Ollie Jenkins and John Cole outweighed a single from James Clifton and it was all square at Verwood with the home side and Petersfield sharing two goals, Ethan Quarchioni for the Potters who also registered an own goal for the visitors.
Lastly the bottom of the table clash between Totton and Eling and Fleet Spurs also finished in a 1-1 draw with Gideon Malonga’s first half goal for the Millers not proving enough as Nick Holmes equalised after the break.
All this still leaves Bemerton as favourites for the Title but one of the top six at present is going to miss out so some vital games still to come. Bemerton filled their afternoon by defeating Wiltshire League side Shrewton in the Salisbury Hospitals Cup though where that leaves them in the Competition is anyone’s guess – it is a very difficult Competition about which to gain information.
So, commiserations once again to Hamworthy but also our congratulations. You have done yourselves proud and bought the Club - and the League - immense credit.
Article Photo: Ian Middlebrook
