HAT TRICK COUNT- WEEK 35

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1 HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE LATEST EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER. If you have anything to contribute, please do get in You can keep up to date with all the news from around the League by following us on Twitter at HAT TRICK COUNT- WEEK 35 0 Despite several games in midweek, nobody was able to get three goals. Pattern repeated at the weekend, although one team have yet to declare their scorer details. LEAGUE CLEAN SHEETS COUNT- WEEK 35 LEAGUE GOALS 10 COUNT- WEEK LEAGUE DINNER DANCE A reminder, and one closer on your calendar. The League Dinner Dance is rapidly approaching- Saturday 5 May. Clubs have had all the information and details regarding payment- but need to let the Vice Chairman know their Menu requirements to be received by him no later than Sunday 15th April- so time is running out. Visit our website for details, but for your diary, it will once again be held at the Novotel on West Quay Road. We have received confirmation from Novotel on room rates for anyone wanting to stay overnight following our annual dinner. As this leaves little time for guests to make their booking 109 (bed and breakfast) on single occupancy or 119 (bed and breakfast) double occupancy. Rooms unsold will be released back to sale 30 days prior to the event. Please contact the hotel directly if you wish to take up their offer- Reservations- NOVOTEL SOUTHAMPTON, 1 West Quay Road, Southampton, SO15 1RA. Tel: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Advance Warning for the AGM which will be on Monday June 25th at the Totton Sports Club, Southern Gardens, Totton, Southampton SO40 8RW- time to be confirmed. Attendance by clubs is required under rule. Please make a note of the date in your Diary. FA COMPETITIONS Time has almost run out for clubs to enter next season s FA Cup and FA Vase- closing date is TODAY, 1 st April!! Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 1 of 16

2 If you want to promote an event at your club, please do get in touch!! Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 2 of 16

3 REGISTRATIONS Only emergency signings can now be made, and only at the express permission of the League Management Board. After 5.00pm on the 31st March each Playing Season new registrations and transfer of registrations will be declined or approved subject to such limitations and restrictions as the Board may determine and, if so determined, the Player shall only be eligible to play in the matches for which permission is granted by the Board. HAMPSHIRE FA RETENTION AND INNOVATION FUNDS WHAT IS THE CLUB RETENTION FUND? This funding should be seen as a one-off grant, to help a struggling team to keep going. Each applicant club needs to demonstrate how they will use the funding to avoid folding and what changes they will make to ensure long term sustainability. The Fund is available to Charter Standard Clubs and those willing to commit to working toward achieving the status within 12 months; going through this process has been proven to increase team sustainability. WHAT IS THE CLUB INNOVATION FUND? This funding is available for clubs/teams wishing to setup pilot programmes to enhance their role. HOW TO APPLY- or if you need further advice, please contact Football Development Officer: Pedro.Viveiros@hampshirefa.com MATCH REPORTING PROCEDURE A reminder again please that the attendance must be submitted with the score at the end of the match. We did reach a stage where they were all coming in every week, but some have slipped of late. Thank you. PLAYER AND CLUB NEWS Team Solent goalkeeper Bradley Banda was on the bench for Gibraltar in their International Friendly against Latvia played at the Victoria Park ground last Sunday, unfortunately though he did not get any game time. The hosts win was Gibraltar s 1 st as a FIFA member- and only their 2 nd ever victory since joining UEFA. A Liam Walker free kick that took a deflection off the Latvia wall the only goal of the game. Christchurch have let Dan Sansom link up on dual registration forms with Dorset Premier League side Gillingham Town to get valuable match time, having missed most of the season through injury. Harry Prisk has been signed ahead of the deadline by Brockenhurst on dual terms with AFC Totton. MATCH REPORTING PROCEDURE Last chance reminder- should you wish to enter this season s competition, you need to get them to me BFEORE 14 April. Club Secretaries have been ed before the Easter break for the address. Thanks, and good luck! MIDWEEK RESULTS ROUNDUP Monday 26 March 2018 Premier Division Team Solent 3-3 Hamble Club 60 Ryan Dacres-Smith 69, 90+3 Dougie Rowe 11, 32 Hisham Kasimu 87 Nathan Lynch 39 pen Tuesday 27 March 2018 Premier Division Cowes Sports 1-2 AFC Portchester 87 John McKie 30 (pen) Olly Searle Steve Ramsey [(pen) Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 3 of 16

4 Alresford Town 0-0 Horndean 48 Amesbury Town 0-2 Blackfield & Langley 55 Sam Griffin Joe Butcher Bashley 1-2 Andover Town 126 Dan Munday 88 Reece Rusher 58 Joe Wright 82 (pen) Shaftesbury 1-2 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 54 Nathan Connolly 28 (pen) Jack Slade 36 Seb Dawes 89 Sholing 5-0 Newport (IoW) 67 Alex Sawyer 11 (pen) Dan Mason 19 Jamie Bulpitt 29 Jake Hoole 54 Lee Wort 63 First Division Downton 2-1 Totton & Eling 31 Paul Gulliver Sam Vidler Harry Crisp East Cowes Victoria 1A1 Romsey Town - Abandoned 60 mins- light failure Tadley Calleva 6-1 Folland Sports 42 Connor Thorne [2] Brett Denham James Tennant Sam Hamilton Daryll Phillips Thursday 29 March 2018 Southampton Senior Cup Semi Final Lymington Town 0-1 Southampton 220 Callum Slattery 81 MIDWEEK MATCH REPORTS Gary Day writes TEAM SOLENT 3-3 HAMBLE CLUB T here was a dramatic finish to the game at Test Park as Team Solent clawed back from a 0-3 deficit to grab what appeared to be an unlikely point against Hamble Club. The visitors were leading 3-1 going into the 87th minute when Orvis, who d been successfully moved into midfield from defence following a Solent reshuffle, whipped in a cross from the right, the ball deflected off KASIMU and in off a defender at the near post. The goal gave Solent a glimmer of hope and, with the game now well in stoppage time, the Sparks got forward for one last desperate siege and Obeng took the ball on his chest for DACRES-SMITH to set himself and fire low and accurately past the diving keeper and into the corner from 18-yards. Cue the celebrations, worthy of a cup final victory, but Mr Dacres-Smith doesn t score many, in fact this was his second of the game and doubling his Solent career tally in the process. It was his moment of glory and off came the shirt and the inevitable yellow card that goes with it! So, rewind to the first whistle and Kasimu made a lively start up front for Solent but, taking the first half into total account it proved a false dawn. Hamble, looked threatening early too as a Byrne header from a freekick found the side net and Solent s Byrne anticipated the danger well to clear after Dougie Rowe had slipped past keeper Collins. The Monks went ahead, a Wilson pass finding ROWE who controlled the ball well to shake off a defender and net firm and low. Kasimu almost levelled the proceedings within a minute but, after he d sprinted clear of the Hamble defence, keeper Anderson deflected his shot away with a trailing leg. Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 4 of 16

5 Hamble threatened as Nyang fired right across the goal, Rowe forced Collins to tip over whilst a great save later from a Rowe header was annulled by the offside flag. At the other end, an Ethan Taylor pass found Kasimu whose poked shot got past Anderson but also past the post. Hamble made it 2-0 when an Amoah right-wing corner to the near post was nodded in by ROWE, which seemed too easy for Hamble. When Solent s Byrne tried to get a foot in, Nathan Lynch went down, the referee adjudging it to be a foul and LYNCH beat the outstretched hand of Collins to make it three from the spot. Hamble were lively, whilst a downbeat Solent got to half-time without further concession. HT: 0-3. Solent changes occurred early in the second half as wide man Mason Walsh came on for his debut whilst Olly Goddard, one of the university s alumni, came on into the defence for his first Wessex game since April The Solent tempo was much higher from there as, with Orvis now in midfield, Obeng fired over and Wilson shot wide. Solent toiled hard perhaps helped by the dangerous Rowe being removed from the Hamble attack. Soon after came a lifeline when Kasimu was deemed to be fouled by a visiting defender in the box. The penalty award looked softer than soft but Solent would take it after all, that sort of decision has gone against them recently and, with all due respect to Hamble Club, they were long overdue for one of their own! Now, both of the usual Solent dead eye spot kickers were not on the pitch, so DACRES-SMITH took the responsibility. There was a delay for the usual procrastinations that happen with a disputed pen. Eventually, the Solent midfielder took the kick which was also soft, Anderson getting down to parry, but the taker reacted to dink it in. That set things up for that grandstand finish. The game, only the third to be played at the ground in 2018, proved to be a thoroughly entertaining affair. Tim Beal writes SHAFTESBURY 1-2 BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS T his local derby was played out on a sticky pitch, which made keeping the ball very difficult for both sides. An even opening saw the players try to get passing games going, but it broke down time and again, much to the frustration of the watching crowd. Shaftesbury broke the deadlock on 28 minutes after a foul in the visitors box brought Nathan CONNOLLY his 3rd goal in 2 games with a strong spot kick. However, 8 minutes from the half time whistle, A Bemerton free kick from Jack SLADE, took a wicked deflection of the wall, to wrong foot Shaftesbury keeper Dan Card who could only watch as the ball found the net to level affairs. The second half saw a number of changes, with Mali Benjamin on and giving the visiting defence a headache with some piercing runs. As the clock moved close to the 90 minute mark a Seb DAWES shot across the box from an acute angle beat everyone and put Bemerton 2-1 up. Shaftesbury tried to level, but in the end it was a win for the Harlequins, and a missed point for the Rockies. Mike Cranidge writes BASHLEY 1-2 ANDOVER TOWN Adetermined Bashley were more than a match for runaway league-leaders Andover Town and could well have been two up had they taken their chances in a scintillating first half that was a credit to the Wessex League. The Bluebirds were stunned by Bashley s fast attacking play but not so stunned as the home supporters by their failure to score. Dan Munday, Harry McGrath and Lewis Ross played out of their socks but were cursed in the efforts to hit the jackpot. The feed and support from midfield plus an attacking high-line defence was breath-taking; however, the half was summed up when the unfortunate Ross hooked wide with the net at his mercy following a dazzling crisp, free-flowing move, which was heading for a goal of the season accolade. Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 5 of 16

6 It was too good to last. The luck that failed Bash now sided with the opposition and early in the second half a hopeful lob into the goal mouth left centre-back Tony Rolls screaming in agony with a torn hamstring, after he stretched to clear the ball, leaving Reece RUSHER free to slot pass the diving Mike Edgar. The game continued apace with the home side still searching for the elusive net when, to add salt to the wound, Andover were awarded a mud-soft penalty. Thus, does fortune strike and so did Joe WRIGHT who scored from the spot. Then, with eight minutes left Bashley were awarded a penalty. Ross, left standing on the spot whilst the visitors were allowed to make a slow substitution, then fluffed his chance. Two minutes later, Bash were in when MUNDAY rifled home from 10 yards. The celebration last all of 10 seconds as Whiteley rushed to claim custody of the ball for the re-start from keeper Steve Mowthorpe who had staked maternal claim. Whiteley s retrieval tactics were adjudged unlawful and a red card awarded. An undeserved result for an excellent Bashley performance that also leaves them two key players short for Monday s game at Petersfield. FOOTBALL ON THE ROCK- BRADLEY HAS A WEEK AT HOME The week before Easter and Team Solent were presented with a selection problem for the best possible reason. The Students were forced to choose a replacement goalkeeper for the their Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) matches as regular custodian Bradley Banda had been recalled for International duty by Gibraltar. It was an especial weekend for Gibraltar in footballing terms with two Under 21 European Qualifying matches and a full Friendly with Latvia, with all the games being played at the Victory Stadium on the Rock. This was a first as problems with the Ground not being of sufficient standard had caused previous home competitive matches to be played in Portugal. As an aside The Island Games are being held in Gibraltar in 2019 but there will be no football tournament because of lack of sufficient facilities. The weekend kicked off with an Under 21 European Qualifier with Serbia Gibraltar are in a six Country group that also includes Russia, Austria, Armenia and Macedonia and with six games played prior to the weekend Gibraltar had three points courtesy of a single goal home victory over Macedonia. Serbia, along with Russia, are the strongest sides in the group and Bradley s weekend started with a six nil defeat. There were three goals in each half but also the distinction of playing in the first EUFA competitive fixture on home soil. A regular in the Under 21 squad, there was promotion to the Senior Squad for the first time for Bradley on Sunday as Latvia were the visitors for a Friendly International, again the first played at home since being granted EUFA and FIFA membership. He had a place on the Bench and savoured only his Country s second victory at this level as a goal two minutes from time by Liam Walker, who plays his football normally for Notts County, proved to be the only one of the game. Gibraltar is the smallest nation recognised by EUFA and their only previous victory was back in 2014 in a Friendly with Malta that was also played in Portugal. Coverage of the fixture with Latvia suggested that the victory for Gibraltar had moved them off the bottom of the World Rankings but as this is written they have not been updated since mid-march and they currently share 206th and bottom place with Anguilla, The Bahamas, Eritrea, Somalia and Tonga which is a fairly widespread group in geographical terms if nothing else. Two days later and it was back to Under 21 duties with Russia, currently topping the group, the opposition and once again the visitors were too strong eventually winning by five goals to nil. There were three goals in the second half as the strength and fitness obviously told but it is something the Gibraltar side are probably always going to have to accept but they and the players can surely only gain from the experience. They now, like the Senior side, seemingly have to wait until September for their next fixtures. Hopefully Bradley will have enjoyed the weekend, despite the results and will always have a small part in this Country s football history with hopefully a full Cap to follow soon. We wish him well. Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 6 of 16

7 SOUTHAMPTON SENIOR CUP 2017/18 THS STORY SO FAR 2016/17 WINNERS- Sholing 1 st Round AFC Stoneham 3-1 Hamble Club Reserves BTC Southampton 4-1 Athletico Romsey Bush Hill 11-1 Hedge End Rangers Bush Hill Reserves 4-0 Compton Comrades 2-1 Braishfield Durley 2-4 Folland Sports Reserves Folland Sports 0-4 Totton & Eling Hedge End Rangers Reserves A/W Southampton University Locks Heath 0-2 Fawley Michelmersh & Timsbury 1-5 Hedge End Town Nursling 4-1 Chamberlayne Athletic Sholing Reserves 1-3 Hythe & Dibden Upham 1-7 Infinity Warsash Wasps 3-3 Bishop Waltham Dynamo [2-4 on penalties] 2 nd Round AFC Gulf Western 2-2 Nursling [6-7 on penalties] Alresford Town 3-1 Fawley Blackfield & Langley 9-0 Hedge End Town Brockenhurst 6-0 Bishops Waltham Dynamo Colden Common 1-2 Hythe & Dibden Hamble Club 4-1 Southampton University Lyndhurst 1-3 Infinity Netley Central Sports 3-2 Comrades QK Southampton 2-0 Bush Hill Reserves Sholing 8-0 Folland Sports Reserves Southampton 6-0 BTC Southampton Sway 2-6 Lymington Town (at Lymington Town) Team Solent 4-2 Totton & Eling Upham Reserves 1-2 Priory Rovers Winchester Castle 1-1 Bush Hill [3-4 on penalties] Winchester City 1-0 AFC Stoneham 3 rd Round Blackfield & Langley 2-1 Alresford Town Brockenhurst 2-2 Sholing [2-3 on penalties] Hamble Club 3-1 Bush Hill Netley Central Sports 2-0 Infinity Southampton 12-0 QK Southampton Team Solent 4-0 Hythe & Dibden Priory Rovers 1-2 Lymington Town (at Lymington Town) Winchester City 4-1 Nursling Quarter Final Sholing 1-0 Hamble Club Netley Central Sports 1-6 Lymington Town Team Solent 1-2 Blackfield & Langley Winchester City 0-3 Southampton Semi Final Southampton 1-0 Lymington Town At Gang Warily, Blackfield & Langley Sholing 0-0 Blackfield & Langley [2-4 on penalties] At Follands Park, Folland Sports Final Blackfield & Langley DATE TBA Southampton at St Marys Stadium, Southampton FC Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 7 of 16

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9 Please support the above event if you are able. There are several charities being supported: The Joe Ellis Trust, in memory of a 13-year old who sadly left us on the Island in June 2014 from Primary Mediastinum Large B cell Non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma, and various charities supported by the Arsenal Foundation, such as: Great Ormond Hospital for Children, Save the Children, Teenage Cancer Trust and Childline, amongst many others. The Arsenal Charity Team will include players from Arsenal over the years, plus several celebrities from the entertainment world, including actors, comedians and the popular music-world also; which is all set to give a great charity fixture. Get along to St George s Park and support these worthy causes. SATURDAY RESULTS ROUND UP Saturday 31 March 2018 Premier Division Baffins Milton Rovers 3-0 Petersfield Town 62? Newport (IoW) 2-4 Amesbury Town 98 Charlie Urry 40, 77 Luke Greenway [2] Connor Millar George Higgins Portland United 0-0 Brockenhurst 177 First Division Alton 4-0 New Milton Town 132 Jack Chandler [2] Callum Burch Danny Knee East Cowes Victoria 0-0 Christchurch 42 Romsey Town 1-1 Downton 124 Brett Stanley 31 Shaun Prentice 49 Action from the Romsey [red] Downton [yellow] game, courtesy of Ray Routledge Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 9 of 16

10 LEAGUE STANDINGS- PREMIER DIVISION RANK PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Andover Town Blackfield & Langley Hamworthy United Sholing AFC Portchester Alresford Town Horndean Lymington Town [*] Bemerton Heath Harlequins [*] Baffins Milton Rovers Bashley Hamble Club Shaftesbury Portland United Brockenhurst Fareham Town Team Solent Bournemouth Cowes Sports Amesbury Town Newport (IoW) Petersfield Town [*] Points adjustment COMING UP IN THE PREMIER DIVISION Monday 2 April 2018 Baffins Milton Rovers v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Brockenhurst v AFC Portchester Lymington Town v Cowes Sports Petersfield Town v Bashley Portland United v Fareham Town Shaftesbury v Horndean Team Solent v Sholing Tuesday 3 April 2018 Amesbury Town v Hamworthy United Blackfield & Langley v Newport (IoW) Wednesday 4 April 2018 AFC Portchester v Horndean Fareham Town v Baffins Milton Rovers Hamble Club v Alresford Town Sholing v Portland United Thursday 5 April 2018 Lymington Town v Blackfield & Langley Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 10 of 16

11 Saturday 7 April 2018 Amesbury Town v Petersfield Town Bashley v AFC Portchester Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Cowes Sports Brockenhurst v Hamble Club Fareham Town v Shaftesbury Horndean v Andover Town Lymington Town v Bournemouth Newport (IoW) v Portland United Sholing v Blackfield & Langley Team Solent v Baffins Milton Rovers Tuesday 10 April 2018 AFC Portchester v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Amesbury Town v Alresford Town Baffins Milton Rovers v Team Solent Fareham Town v Blackfield & Langley Hamble Club v Horndean Newport (IoW) v Bashley Sholing v Cowes Sports Thursday 12 April 2018 Hamble Club v Portland United Horndean v Bashley Newport (IoW) v Fareham Town Petersfield Town v Blackfield & Langley Team Solent v Amesbury Town Saturday 14 April 2018 AFC Portchester v Newport (IoW) Alresford Town v Sholing Andover Town v Fareham Town Blackfield & Langley v Lymington Town Bournemouth v Petersfield Town Cowes Sports v Horndean Hamble Club v Amesbury Town Hamworthy United v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Portland United v Baffins Milton Rovers Shaftesbury v Brockenhurst Team Solent v Bashley Fixtures subject to alteration or cancellation at short notice Thursday 5 April 2018 IOW Gold Cup Quarter Final West Wight v Newport (IoW) Tuesday 10 April 2018 Dorset Senior Cup Final Shaftesbury v Wimborne Town The Dorset Senior Cup Final is at the County Ground, Hamworthy. Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 11 of 16

12 CURRENT FORM GUIDE- PREMIER DIVISION RANK PL W D L F A PTS 1 Sholing W W W W W W 2 Blackfield & Langley W L W W W W 3 Andover Town W W W W L W 4 Bemerton Heath Harlequins W W W D D D 5 Brockenhurst L L W W W W 6 Baffins Milton Rovers W W W L L D 7 Hamble Club W L W L D W 8 AFC Portchester W W D W L W 9 Hamworthy United W W W D L L 10 Alresford Town L D W W D D 11 Bashley L W W W L L 12 Fareham Town L W W L W L 13 Horndean L L W D W D 14 Portland United D W L L W D 15 Team Solent L L W W L D 16 Shaftesbury L D L W W L 17 Lymington Town L L L D L W 18 Amesbury Town L L W L D L 19 Cowes Sports W L L L W L 20 Petersfield Town L W L L L L 21 Bournemouth L L L L L D 22 Newport (IoW) L D L L L L LEAGUE STANDINGS- FIRST DIVISION RANK PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Christchurch Andover New Street Tadley Calleva AFC Stoneham Laverstock & Ford Romsey Town United Services Portsmouth Alton New Milton Town Ringwood Town Downton Fawley Totton & Eling Hythe & Dibden Whitchurch United East Cowes Victoria Verwood Town Folland Sports [*] [*] Points adjustment Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 12 of 16

13 COMING UP IN THE FIRST DIVISION Monday 2 April 2018 Andover New Street v Folland Sports Christchurch v United Services Portsmouth Hythe & Dibden v New Milton Town Tadley Calleva v Downton Tuesday 3 April 2018 AFC Stoneham v Ringwood Town Alton v Fawley East Cowes Victoria v Whitchurch United Romsey Town v Laverstock & Ford Thursday 5 April 2018 Verwood Town v Fawley Saturday 7 April 2018 Fawley v Christchurch Folland Sports v Alton Hythe & Dibden v Andover New Street Laverstock & Ford v Ringwood Town New Milton Town v Verwood Town Tadley Calleva v East Cowes Victoria United Services Portsmouth v Downton Whitchurch United v Romsey Town Monday 9 April 2018 Whitchurch United v Downton Tuesday 10 April 2018 Andover New Street v Christchurch Fawley v Verwood Town Totton & Eling v East Cowes Victoria Wednesday 11 April 2018 Hythe & Dibden v Romsey Town Thursday 12 April 2018 Fawley v United Services Portsmouth Saturday 14 April 2018 AFC Stoneham v Whitchurch United Alton v Romsey Town Christchurch v East Cowes Victoria Downton v Folland Sports Laverstock & Ford v Hythe & Dibden Ringwood Town v Fawley Totton & Eling v Tadley Calleva United Services Portsmouth v New Milton Town Verwood Town v Andover New Street Fixtures subject to alteration or cancellation at short notice Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 13 of 16

14 CURRENT FORM GUIDE- FIRST DIVISION RANK PL W D L F A PTS 1 Christchurch D W W D W D 2 Fawley W L L W W W 3 Andover New Street L W L W W W 4 Laverstock & Ford W W D W D L 5 Romsey Town L W D W W D 6 United Services Portsmouth D W W W L L 7 Tadley Calleva L L L W W W 8 Alton L D D W L W 9 AFC Stoneham W W L D D L 10 Verwood Town W L D D W L 11 New Milton Town L W W D L L 12 Ringwood Town L W L L L W 13 Whitchurch United L L D L D W 14 Folland Sports W D L D L L 15 Hythe & Dibden L L L W D L 16 Totton & Eling L D L L W L 17 Downton L L L L W D 18 East Cowes Victoria L L L L W D SATURDAY MATCH REPORTS Gary Day writes EAST COWES VICTORIA 0-0 CHRISTCHURCH A goalless draw might not provide the most eye catching of accounts but read on this was a thoroughly entertaining encounter as Division 1 table-toppers Christchurch visited the Vics who were looking for points to pull away from the lower reaches of the ladder. It looked to be a tough ask for Vics, who were playing against a team who ve lost just one league game this season. Considering the many postponements in the Wessex League, the Beatrice Avenue pitch was in a great condition, albeit soft following the Friday rain. Browne fired over from a corner for Vics in the opening minutes whilst an excellent ball from Priory s Robinson found Stone in a promising position on the right and his shot produced a fine parry from Vics keeper Russell. That action proved to be the last for Robinson as he suddenly went down in midfield and there were concerns about a broken ankle as several coats were placed over him. Following a six-minute delay, the injured player was eventually able to be carried from the field allaying those initial concerns regarding the extent of the injury. Play resumed and a Cormack header was well defended by Vics Watterson and then they attacked, a good pass by Brown to Walsh who played it on to Nash whose effort was blocked. Russell had to advance to deflect the ball for a corner after Priory s Stone had a run on goal and from King s corner, a downward Cormack header rather hit Neale from very close to the goal and the ball somehow went over. A further good run by Stone produced a shooting chance for Jackson that was directed at Russell who made the save. HT: 0-0. The feature of the second half was some excellent defending at both ends, Senior doing so to clear for the visitors after a lofted Malin pass looked to find Burton. More Christchurch pressure as Joyce passed to King whose cross was put over by Cormack. When Priory committed players forward, Vics mounted a counter attack as Nash played it to Burton who then returned it to Nash who stubbed his shot. Vics got in a couple of promising positions but both Przespolewski and Kevin Brown were caught offside. There was a frenzied finish as both sides looked to win it. Wright miscued wide and Neale shot low past the far post for the visitors whilst Nash was just going to pull the trigger for Vics but Senior got in an excellent tackle. Next, Przespolewski did the same in the Vics rear-guard on Grange. Gage put in a cross but Vics Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 14 of 16

15 Woodburn headed out, Russell clawing away the resulting corner to ensure that Vics secured the hard-earned point their overall graft deserved. FT: 0-0. Whilst it s great to report about the ball hitting the back of the net (or, for that matter, just trickling over the line), the defending in this game was top drawer at times. Yes, goals do add excitement to games but sometimes matches like this can be just as gripping. WHAT LIES BENEATH DORSET PREMIER LEAGUE RANK PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Gillingham Town Hamworthy Recreation Merley Cobham Sports Westland Sports Dorchester Sports Hamworthy United Reserves Mere Town Holt United Swanage Town & Herston [*] Balti Sports Shaftesbury Reserves [*] Parley Sports Sturminster Newton United Bridport Reserves Blandford United Sherborne Town Reserves Wareham Rangers [*] [*] Points adjustment made Just one game yesterday- Hamworthy United Reserves 6-1 Swanage Town & Herston NEW FOREST CARE HAMPSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE RANK PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Infinity Paulsgrove Bush Hill Locks Heath Liphook United Sway Stockbridge Overton United Liss Athletic Clanfield Hayling United QK Southampton Fleetlands Colden Common Winchester Castle Hedge End Rangers Only three games yesterday- Hedge End Rangers 1-3 Liss Athletic, Paulsgrove 8-0 Liphook United, Sway 3-5 Colden Common Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 15 of 16

16 THE LAST WORD- WEEK 35 ROUND UP T eam Solent, who have suffered their share of postponements, must have been delighted to have a game on Monday but their feelings may have changed by half time when their visitors, Hamble Club, were three goals ahead with Dougie Rowe scoring twice writes John Gorman. Solent pulled one back midway through the second half and an own goal three minutes from time gave them renewed hope which was rewarded in stoppage time when Ryan Dacres-Smith scored his second goal to give them a share of the points. No change at the top or the bottom of the Premier Division table on Tuesday with Andover Town and Blackfield and Langley both winning and Newport and Amesbury losing. Andover were a goal in front at Bashley in the second half when both sides were awarded a penalty in the space of five minutes. Andover scored, Bashley missed and a goal in the dying minutes was not enough for the home side Blackfield notched up their fourth win in a row with two second half goals giving them the points at Amesbury. Newport meanwhile went down five nil at Sholing with five different scorers for the home side whilst Alresford and Horndean fought out a goalless draw at Arlebury Park. A last minute penalty by Steve Ramsey gave AFC Portchester the points at Cowes and moved them to fifth place whilst Bemerton came from behind to win by the odd goal in three at Shaftesbury and banish the memories of Saturday s heavy defeat. In Division One Tadley continued their revival and moved in to third spot with a six one win over Follands two goals for Connor Thorne and five goals in the second half and Downton ended a run of four defeats with a two one victory over Totton and Eling. East Cowes Vics game with Romsey had to be abandoned after sixty minutes with the score at one each because of a complete electrical failure and the Fawley United Services clash was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. Sadly, more rain overnight put paid to Wednesday s fixtures with the League games at Hamble Club and Hythe and Dibden both postponed. On Thursday Lymington Town fell at the last hurdle as they attempted to reach the Final of the Southampton Senior Cup, losing by the only goal of the game to Southampton. The latter, making a rare appearance in the Competition, will now face Blackfield and Langley in the Final at St Marys. It took 82 minutes before Saints could break down the Lymington defence in which goalkeeper Ross Casey was outstanding. Friday s fixture between Andover New Street and Whitchurch fell foul of the rain and almost certainly could be seen as a pre-cursor for Saturday. The rain did duly arrive overnight with disastrous results for the League programme with just six matches being played, three in each Division. Portland attracted an attendance of approaching two hundred for their match with Brockenhurst but neither side could reward the faithful with a goal. This was Portland s thirteenth League draw of the season and it took the Badgers current unbeaten run to six. The other two matches featured the three sides somewhat marooned in the relegation places at the bottom of the table. Petersfield made the short journey down the A3 to Baffins Milton Rovers and were defeated three nil sadly the scorers were not reported. The other two sides, Newport and Amesbury, met on the Island and the visitors grabbed a small lifeline with a four two victory Charlie Urry and Luke Greenway each scoring twice for their respective sides. The position at the bottom realistically is that Cowes Sports are probably the only Club the three sides can catch and even that looks impossible for Petersfield as the Love Lane side are twenty points adrift of the Islanders with just seven games to play. Newport are thirteen points behind their neighbours with nine to play whilst Amesbury have a deficit of nine to overcome with seven games left. In Division One Christchurch moved eight points clear of the chasing pack with a goalless draw at East Cowes Vics. A good point for the home side and a rare score line for either side. Alton, free of any pitch problems, beat New Milton four nil in an enjoyable game in which the home side took their chances, and missed a penalty, whilst the visitors could not find the net. It was ironic, given what had gone before, that the game was played in watery sunshine with at times blue skies. In the remaining game, where, as at Alton, there was a three figure attendance, Romsey and Downton scored a goal apiece to share the points. Christchurch now look very much in pole position as regards promotion to the top Division but behind them five points cover the next six Clubs. Enjoy the rest of the Easter break with, hopefully, some football. Sunday, 01 April /18 Edition #42 Page 16 of 16