Blistering first-half Silvano Obeng hat-trick helps Brockenhurst FC beat Ringwood Town to win Hampshire FA Senior Supplementary Cup
Hampshire FA Senior Supplementary Cup final
Brockenhurst FC 4
Ringwood Town FC 2
A BLISTERING first-half display from prolific new signing Silvano Obeng was enough to separate Brockenhurst and Ringwood Town, with the former side lifting the Hampshire FA Senior Supplementary Cup.
Brockenhurst held a three-goal advantage going into the break, and Ringwood's improved second-half display was too little too late as Patrick McManus' men lifted the trophy at the final whistle.
Ringwood started positively, and there were more than a couple of groans of frustration heard from the 247-strong crowd at the Meadens Skoda Arena when Adam Riley's low, hard cross evaded everyone in the box after just two minutes.
Brockenhurst was beginning to have some success now, and number 10, Adam Grange, forced a decent save out of Ringwood's Liam Harris. However, the keeper could do nothing about Obeng's effort four minutes later when the lethal number nine found a bit of space before turning and firing in from 10 yards out.
After 16 minutes, Ringwood found themselves two goals down in a terrible situation when Harris failed to deal with a corner, and Obeng's predatory instincts had him waiting in the perfect place to stab in his second of the game.
Brockenhurst was terrorising their visitors, and Harris was forced into action multiple times to repel goalbound efforts. However, just before referee Antony Smith blew the half-time whistle, Obeng latched onto a ball over the top before quickly lifting it over an on-rushing keeper.
Richard Morse and his men deserve praise for how they approached the second half. After 53 minutes, Ryan Hamm showed his pedigree, latching onto a superb through ball to slot it past an advancing James Mayo.
Brockenhurst quickly quashed any hopes of a fightback within two minutes when Obeng turned provider, turning in his half before pinging the ball to Grange, who held his nerve to find the net and make it 4-1.
After the hour mark, Ringwood striker Hamm reacted quickly to a loose ball after James Matthews' long-range shot crashed back off the crossbar.
Both sides had opportunities to add to their score, but it remained at 4-2 as Brockenhurst won the inaugural Hampshire FA Senior Supplementary Cup.
After the match, Brockenhurst manager Patrick McManus said: "Winning the supplementary competition was a great way to finish a challenging season. The competition itself allowed us to use players within our development structure who previously hadn't played any Wessex League football. To that end, we learned a great deal about some of the players at the club.
"Today was another virtuoso performance from Silvano Obeng that put us in a comfortable position at half-time. However, Ringwood did come out with more purpose in the second half, as expected.
"We'll look forward to a shorter break than usual, then start preparing for what we hope will be an entire uninterrupted season."
Ringwood Town manager Richard Morse said: "I'm really proud of the lads to get this far in the competition. The first half performance was disappointing, which ultimately cost us. However, we regrouped at half-time and came out a lot better in the second half and gave it a good go; unfortunately, though, we couldn't get the goals we needed. But all in all, I'm pleased with the lads."
Brockenhurst: J. Mayo, C. Ings, J. Broad, J. Nwachukwu, R. Moore, B. Magookin, J. Shorey, C. Ward, S. Obeng, A. Grange, M. Sheedy. Subs: B. Matoug, P. Wilson, T. Barnes, J. Stacey, F. Monk.
Ringwood Town: L. Harris, L. Carter, R. Butterworth, J. Petty, C. Horton, T. Hughes, M. Cole, H. Fay, R. Hamm, B. Harris, A. Riley. Subs: S. Brown, M. Hamm, J. Matthews, M. Mason, N. Harvey.
