Brading Town Reserves lost to Southampton side, Testlands, in the final of the junior Hampshire Cup competition—the Hampshire Plate—despite playing against 10 men for much of the game.
The match was played at Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes just 4 hours before the final of the Hampshire Trophy.
Testlands began on the front foot, scoring after just 5 minutes when Sean Haines flicked a header from a throw in to Ronnie Devereux, who then crossed the ball to Daniel Spencer for him to dispatch the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards. (0-1)
Testlands continued to probe the Romans’ defence, hitting the post on the 15-minute mark. Brading were then handed an advantage over the mainland side when Haines was sent off for the visitors after 27 minutes for lashing out at a Brading player in an off-the-ball incident. Testlands, however, extended their lead in the 34th minute through a second goal from Daniel Spencer, who scored from the edge of the Romans’ penalty area after being put through by Martin McCann. (0-2)
HT: Brading Town Reserves 0-2 Testlands
Brading continued to be the weaker of the two sides in the second half despite their one-man advantage. It took them until the 72nd minute to have a shot on target when captain, Tim Shaw, was put clean through on goal, but struck his shot straight at the Testlands’ keeper.
Brading appeared to have little hope of avoiding defeat when one of their number, Max Fallone, was sent off for an off the ball incident in the 90th minute. However, in the 4th minute of injury time, Alex Boirand headed over the Testlands’ keeper from close range to reduce the deficit to one goal. (1-2)
The Romans then laid siege to the Testlands’ goal, forcing a succession of corners. In the 5th minute of injury time, Louis Strickland almost succeeded in levelling the score and taking the match to penalties, but had his close-range goal bound effort deflected past the post by Testlands’ keeper, Dave Malcolm
FT: Brading Town Reserves 1-2 Testlands
Brading Reserves: Woods, Woodnutt, Trundle, Woodhouse, Davison, Powell, Shaw (capt), Fallone, Dennett, Strickland, Robjant. Subs: Boirand, Bligh, Charman, Vokins, Oxenham.
After the game, Brading Chairman, Geoff Ruck, said:
“Testlands showed their spirit and some of our players were overawed by the occasion. We had lost Todd Connor and Fynn Powell during the week, and they were key players for us. Brading did not play the passing football we are capable of. We were very nervous, and it took us a long time for our confidence to grow.”
Following the game, Brading Town Reserve manager, Ash Oliver, announced his intention to leave his post due to the pressure of work. Brading first team manager, Steve Lawton, said:
“I’ve been a reserve team manager before and it’s a really tough job—but Ash always gave 100% and did the job the best he could.”
