On Tuesday, Liss Athletic exited the Aldershot Intermediate Cup, beaten 1-4 at Hartley Wintney Res.

On Wednesday, the first League Cup semi-final was played at Fareham. Senior Division Sway overcame Division 1 South East Meon Milton by 2-1, but ended up with ten men and were under pressure from the impressive visitors until the final whistle.

On Saturday, results meant that the top of the Senior Division is now getting very interesting.

Denmead completed a solid 3-1 home win over Clanfield, but closest challengers Moneyfields Res had a double blow – firstly having a result reversed in the week, and secondly losing 0-3 at Fleetlands at the weekend (pictured). They still have three games in hand on the Mead, but are now seven points behind.

With that win, Fleetlands move above Locks Heath into third. Colden Common continued their good run with a 5-0 win at Chamberlayne and are still fifth, but they could challenge the top three (or even better) if they won all their games in hand.

Stockbridge remain sixth after a 2-1 win at Liss Athletic, and Hayling United remain seventh despite a 1-3 loss at Overton United, who move above Liss into thirteenth with that win.

We had a goal-laden afternoon in what has now become a mid-table clash, Winchester Castle edged past Liphook United in a nine-goal thriller, with the hosts winning 5-4. At the bottom, Lyndhurst went down 1-2 at League Cup finalists Sway - who themselves are still yet to draw a Senior Division game this season, with eight to go.

HPFL - TABLES

The L4 Challenge Cup saw a thriller before another big crowd between local rivals Headley United and Whitehill and Bordon. Headley had won the away leg 5-3, but their opponents turned the tables in this match, winning 3-1, and then eventually coming through 7-6 in the penalty shootout.

Whitehill and Bordon received another fillip during the week when the points were awarded to them in their final league game against Silchester, enabling them to finish above Headley in second place in Division 1 North.

The other tie was the return leg of the Hook v Whiteley Wanderers clash, where the North Hampshire side led 5-1 after the first game.

Our ‘man on the spot’ was there again: ‘Hook arrived at Whiteley holding a 5-1 first leg advantage and were met by the home club’s under-18 team. With the recent fine weather, the surface was bouncy, and a blustery cross wind made things difficult for both sides. 

The visitors started comfortably, trying to retain possession and build attacks. This approach came to fruition on 19 minutes when Ben Morris sent in an in-swinging corner from the right flank. The ball reached Josh James, who volleyed in with his instep into the roof of the net. Whiteley had chances and Hook’s player manager Dan Mellors, filling in with the gloves, was forced to palm over a 35 yard lob and did the same with the ensuing corner. 

Just before the hour Whiteley equalised when Harry Willmott volleyed in from 15 yards. The home team were much more in the game now and profiting from a higher press. As the game was petering out to a close the youthful Whiteley team got the result they deserved in added time. Firstly Ben Bryant took advantage of a Mellors blunder to shoot home from the edge of the box. Korben Ferguson then secured a 3-1 victory for the youngsters with Mellors again caught out. 

Hook through to the quarter final of the L4 Teamwear Cup where they now meet Broughton.

L4 SUPPLEMENTARY CHALLENGE CUP - DRAW

Finally, there was more Cup action as Andover New Street Swifts won 6-1 at North Waltham in the North Hants Intermediate Cup.

Article Photo: Dave Bodymore