Peter Raynbird reviews cup matches played on 6th February. All League matches were postponed die to waterlogged pitches

Hampshire Junior ‘B’ Cup Semi Final.

Tron FC continued their excellent unbeaten season with a 5-0 win at Newfound to go into the Final of the Hampshire Junior ‘B’ Cup. They will now meet the winners of the AFC Burton v Kyngs Towne FC match at the Christchurch FC Ground on Saturday April 16th with an 11 am Kick Off.

The pitch at Newfound was very heavy after overnight rain, but survived a 1pm inspection by Match Official Callum Lane. It was in the 4th minute that Tron took a 1-0 lead against their Southampton League opponents Hythe Aztecs FC Reserves. Good build up play by Zac Reynolds and Richard Kalwarczyk made a chance for Ben Nicholls to round the keeper and slot home. The return of Nicholls is a boost for Darren Hutchins’ side who said “He is back at the right time for us” as his side look ahead to the run in for the Division Two Title and the four cups which they remain in. Aztecs were always in contention early in the match and only two excellent saves by Kevin Beaumont kept Tron ahead.

In the 26th minute Nicholls scored his second. It came on a counter attack when a Lorne Howard broke down the left wing and his centre was met by Nicholls, hitting the roof of the net from ten yards out after outpacing his marker. In the 46th minute Nicholls completed his hat trick when a ball from Barney Powell was headed on by Stuart Austen and his 25 yard lob proved too good for the keeper. Nicholls, who has now scored 25 goals in his ten appearances, was then substituted and his replacement Richard McCoubrie set up the fourth goal. It was his corner kick in the 65th minute that was firmly headed into the net by centre back Gordon Birch, scoring his first for the club. In the 90th minute McCoubrie netted the fifth with a 30 yarder.

Hampshire Junior ‘A’ Cup Quarter Finals.

Just two other scheduled matches took place and one was in Southampton where Tadley Calleva FC ‘A’ won through to the Semi Finals of the Hampshire Junior ‘A’ Cup after beating Park Phoenix FC 7-1, helped by another hat trick from Kye Theodore. Their opponents had a 100% record until this heavy defeat when Bradley Nash’s outfit completely outplayed them after taking a 30 second lead. Luke Allison was the scorer with a wind assisted shot into the top corner. The lead was doubled in the 10th when Peter White scored direct from a free kick and just before half time Andy Johnson put Theodore through for a three goal advantage.

Peter White headed his second from an Alliston corner kick early in the second half. There was a brief come back from Phoenix when they scored from a free kick to make it 4-1 on the hour, but Theodore soon scored again. On came substitute Gary Hibbs and within five minutes of entry he netted a Dan Walkley cross and the game ended with a third for Theodore, his 40th of the season. Hopes of a home draw in the Semi’s were dashed when they learned it is a ferry to the IOW to face Ryde Saints FC on 6th March.

The other Quarter Final between Twentyten FC and Shanklin FC Reserves was postponed due to an unfit pitch and is now due to be played this Saturday at Preston Candover. Should they get through Alan Spacagna’s side also travel to the Island to face Osborne Coburg FC.

Peter Raynbird Cup Quarter Final

The AWE pitch was ruled playable for the Quarter Final of the Peter Raynbird Cup and it is the holders Hook FC who move through to the Semi Final where they will be playing Twentyten FC away. In only the second minute Hook had a gifted opener. A very poor back pass from Shaun Berry was seized by Pete Silvester and his pass led to Aaron King scoring. It was an equally bad mistake that handed Aldermaston ‘A’ their equalizer in the 12th minute. The Hook keeper Chris Le Brow threw the ball out to James Westwood, it fell short, was picked up by Tony Johnson who chipped past Le Brow from 25 yards out.

Hook regained their lead in the 17th when another good ball from Silvester put Tom Davies through on goal, he rounded former Hook player, Brad Nicholson, now keeping goal for the Division Two side and slotted the ball into the net. Le Brow tipped a fine shot over the bar to prevent Aldermaston equalizing in the 21st minute, but as the pitch cut up badly good football became difficult and it remained at 2-1 at the break.
It was in the 55th when King put Silvester away on the left with a nice pass, he cut inside his marker and in a one on one with the keeper extended the Hook lead. After this there was little fight from the opposition and in the 89th minute Berry pulled down Davies and Andy Haig converted the spot kick.