FIXTURES - JANUARY 24th/26th

Monday January 24th

Southampton Senior Cup 2nd Round

Millbrook  3-1 QK Southampton

Tuesday January 25th

Russell Cotes Cup Quarter Final

AFC Stoneham  1-2  Brockenhurst

Premier Division

Alton  0-0  Hamworthy United

Amesbury Town  0-2  AFC Portchester

Christchurch  1-0  Bournemouth

Hythe & Dibden  1-1  Shaftesbury

Moneyfields  0-2  Hamble Club

Division One

Follands Sports  0-0  Bemerton Heath Harlequins

New Milton Town  2-0  Fawley AFC

Newport IoW  6-1  East Cowes Vics (at East Cowes)

North Hants DFA Senior Cup Semi Final

Andover New Street 0-4  Alresford Town

Portsmouth Senior Cup Quarter Final

Horndean  1-2  Petersfield Town

Southampton Senior Cup 1st Round

Ringwood Town  3-0  Tendown Athletic

Southampton Senior Cup 2nd Round

Romsey Town  4-0  Compton

Wednesday January 26th

Premier Division

Baffins Milton Rovers  4-5  Fareham Town

Division One

Whitchurch United  0-2  Downton

Portsmouth Senior Cup Quarter Final

Gosport Borough  4-0  U.S. Portsmouth

As is usual at this stage of the season matches in a variety of Competitions which started on Monday and that evening usually means Test Park. This time it was a Second Round Southampton Senior Cup tie between near neighbours Millbrook and QK Southampton which attracted an attendance of 290, the largest at the ground since the Team Solent/South Shields Vase tie in 2017. On the night the Wessex League side were the stronger, running out three one winners, courtesy of two goals from Mike Barker and one from Robbie Stapleton but it was no easy ride.

On to Tuesday and matches in both Divisions of the Wessex League which produced one or two unexpected results, some good attendances but overall, not a lot of goals. In the Premier Division Hamworthy United made the long journey to Alton and returned home with a point after a goalless draw and AFC Portchester were similarly on the road with goals from Rafa Ramos and Marley Ridge giving them a two nil victory at Amesbury. The local derby between Christchurch and Bournemouth was watched by two hundred and fifty people with the home side’s Luke Ansell scoring the only goal of the game in the first half.

Another welcome and well earned point for Hythe and Dibden with Ash Pope giving visitors Shaftesbury the lead at the break and Filippos Terzidis levelling matters in the second half, and something of a surprise result at Moneyfields given their recent form where goals from Jamie Cassell and Harvey Ingledew-Coak either side of half time gave Hamble Club the three points.

In Division One three of the top sides in the table were in action with a stalemate at Hamble where neither Follands nor Bemerton Heath could trouble the scorers. No such problems at Beatrice Road where Newport defeated East Cowes Vics by six goals to one.  Aaron Burford scored twice with singles from Jordan Browne, Joe Craig, Jake Wright and Joe Butcher with Toby Snow getting the Vics consolation. As usual a good crowd. 239, for the meeting of the two sides. New Milton returned to winning ways with a two nil home win over Fawley – Luke Stone and Ben Cooper on target – but the scheduled fixture between Verwood and Infinity was postponed as the latter continue to try and resolve their problems.

Brockenhurst became the fourth side to reach the semi-finals of the Russell Cotes Cup wIth a best of three goals victory at AFC Stoneham. Matt Bainbridge gave the home side an early lead but a Mitch Speechley Price penalty levelled the scores at the break and Ben Dukes’ second half goal proved decisive. Premier Division leaders Horndean exited the Portsmouth Senior Cup at the quarter final stage going down two one at home to Petersfield Town. Lewis Martin was on the mark for the Deans with Brandon Jewell and Max Paddon clinching victory for the Division One side in front of an attendance in excess of 150.

Andover New Street lost their hold on the North Hants Cup at the semi final stage as Alresford achieved an ultimately comfortable four nil victory at Foxcotte Park with two goals in each half - Marcus Neves, Andry Demira, James Parker Trott and Noah Chengun the marksmen. Lastly on Tuesday two more games in the Southampton Senior Cup with creditable performances from the two Junior sides. Ringwood Town scored three without reply against Tendown Athletic - Charlie Ritchings, Ben Harris and Josh Taylor on target - and Jack Odam with a hat trick and George Pooley scored for Romsey against Compton.

Three matches on Wednesday to complete the midweek and Baffins Milton Rovers missed the chance to take over the top spot in the Premier Division when they went down by five goals to four at home to Fareham Town. Rudi Blenkson with two, Jason Parish and Craig McAllister scored for the home side but doubles from Stuart Morgan and Josh Benfield plus a single strike from Charlie Cooper gave Fareham the points. Attendances in the League have been improving all season and, seemingly, especially in the Portsmouth area with 256 watching the nine goal bonanza. In Division One  a goal in each half from Cameron Butler and Sam Bell gave Downton a two nil victory at Whitchurch while US Portsmouth exited the Portsmouth Senior Cup after a four nil defeat at Gosport Borough.