New Forest teams compete in first-ever Hampshire FA Senior Invitational Cup
IT was a mixed bag of results for local teams in the first-ever Hampshire FA Senior Invitational Cup on Tuesday night.
Six of the seven sides who chose to enter the optional cup competition were in action, with only New Milton Town and AFC Totton picking up victories.
Sydenhams Wessex Division One side New Milton Town beat Brockenhurst, who play in the league above, 2-1 at the Meadens Skoda Arena.
New Milton took the lead five minutes before the break with a well-taken penalty from Morgan Turner after Patrick Wilson held an attacker in the area. Turner’s low shot into the bottom-left corner evaded the outstretched arm of keeper James Mayo.
Brockenhurst levelled the match when James Marshall headed in from a corner in the 60th minute.
Conor Jevon won the game for the visitors with a superbly taken goal just after the hour mark. A ball down the channel found the number nine, who took the ball in his stride before finding the far side of the net from a tight angle.
The home side’s hopes of a fightback were severely hampered when Wilson earned his second yellow for tripping Jevon as the New Milton man went through on goal.
New Milton Town manager, Paul Turner, said: “It was fantastic to be back playing competitively after such a long lay off, and the prospect of competing against a local Forest team added to the anticipation.
“The lads were focused last night, which was shown by their discipline and determination. We dominated possession, created plenty of chances and were very difficult to breakdown.
“For all the fans who missed the game, you missed New Milton Town make a statement of intent.”
Southern League side AFC Totton were in dominant form beating Sydenhams Wessex Division One side Hythe & Dibden 6-1. The two sides ply their trade three divisions apart, but the gulf in class wasn’t evident in the first half, with the teams going into the break at 2-1.
Totton’s goals came from Sam Griffin, with the first two strikes, and Brett Williams, Jack Masterton, Hisham Kasimu and Liam Robinson scoring the others. Marlon Mason scored for the hosts.
It was a tough evening for Ringwood Town, who lost 5-1 to Winchester City, who play three divisions higher in the Southern League.
The Sydenhams Division One side suffered a torrid time going five goals down. However, Ringwood managed to score a 70th-minute consolation goal when Harrison Fay found the back of the net.
