Hook produced one of the performances of the weekend, ousting Isle of Wight league leaders Whitecroft & Barton on penalties in the Hampshire Trophy.

The feat perhaps even more praiseworthy given the Division One North Hants side travelled to the Island with only a bare eleven and no recognised goalkeeper - who kept a clean sheet as they earned a goalless draw to take the tie to spot-kicks.

Resolute defending and first-class organisation limited the prolific unbeaten hosts to few shots on target. In the penalty shootout stand in keeper Morgan Davis saved Whitecroft's first two penalties, with the third over the bar. For Hook, Ben Morris, Matt Comer netted then player/ manager Dan Mellors converted the winning spot kick to secure a place in the quarter-final.

Division One South East team Meon Milton also found glory on the Island with an excellent 4-2 win at Bembridge. Fleetlands qualified for the quarter-finals, too, with a 2-0 away win in a potentially tricky tie at Southampton Premier leaders Hedge End Town. 

Unfortunately, Colden Common couldn’t make it four out of four, as they lost 1-4 at home to AFC Stoneham Reserves, thereby ending their long unbeaten run.

In the Senior Division, Moneyfields Reserves didn’t play, so Denmead drew level with them at the top after a 5-3 win at Overton United. 

Stockbridge moved into fourth with a 4-1 win at home to Chamberlayne Athletic, whose sixth consecutive defeat this was, and the new-look Clanfield continued their march up the table with an impressive 3-0 win at Paulsgrove. Sway won 3-0 at Winchester Castle to make it eight wins and eight defeats (no draws) this season.

In Division 1 North, the gap at the top widened to nine points as leaders Andover New Street Swifts beat Twentyten 5-1 at home, and second-placed Headley United lost 3-4 to South Wonston Swifts, also at home. Silchester consolidated their third place with a 6-3 win at North Waltham.

In Division One South East, the top two were playing Cup games, so Harvest overtook Upham and are now second, on goal difference, after a 9-0 home win over AFC Netley. Fourth-placed Whiteley Wanderers lost ground on them after a 1-2 reverse at AFC Petersfield, and Michelmersh and Timsbury had a 5-3 win over Clarendon in a match switched to Barry’s Field.

Other Cup results saw Senior Division Locks Heath prevail 4-2 over Division One South East leaders QK Southampton in the only game played so far in the League Cup quarter-final – another hat-trick for Ryan Bath.

In the Southampton Senior Cup, Upham had a good 3-1 home win over Southampton Premier team Hedge End Rangers, but Lyndhurst’s season continued to get worse with a 0-1 defeat at Southampton Senior Division One leaders, Testlands.

Finally, in the Aldershot DFA Cup, Liss Athletic won 4-3 at Ropley, but Whitehill & Bordon lost 2-4 at home to Deepcut Community, both opposing teams from the Aldershot League.

Article by Paul Harris

Article Photo of Locks Heath (red) vs QK Southampton by Paul Paxford (@PitchSidePhoto)