After a goalless first half, 4 second half goals saw Pan Community reach the final of the Hampshire Vase.
Pan – who have never been in a Hampshire Cup semi-final before – saw off Portsmouth side Mob Albion on a muddy pitch backed up by a vociferous crowd at Downside.
The first half was a cagey affair with neither side being able to show a clear advantage, although Robbie Shepherd had a good shot stopped by the MOB Albion keeper in the 13th minute.
The game came to life in the final 5 minutes of the 1st half when first Mark Taylor had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when he was bundled over in the penalty area, then Ross Lacey saw an attempt on goal fly over the crossbar before heading just past the upright.
Half time Pan 0-0 MOB Albion
Pan began the 2nd half on the front foot with Mark Taylor forcing a save from the MOB Albion keeper from a tight angle, and Ash Gulliver had an attempt on goal blocked. The fiercely competitive game then became fractious with Lennox Dunkling, Mark Taylor and Josh Gwilliam all yellow-carded for Pan.
It took some magic from MOB Albion centre forward Harry Potter to break the deadlock in the 61st minute, when he pounced on a ball that had rebounded off the Pan upright (0-1).
2 minutes later, Pan levelled the score line when Ross Lacey sent a low shot past the Mob Albion keeper from the middle of the penalty area (1-1).
In the 66th minute, Ash Gulliver gave Pan the lead when he collected the ball, turned and blasted it into the top corner of the goal (2-1). A minute later, Mark Taylor missed a golden opportunity to score but hit the ball past the right post from 5 yards with only the goalkeeper to beat.
In the 70th minute, Robbie Shepherd gave Pan a 2-goal cushion by shooting the ball into the MOB Albion net from 12 yards (3-1). Harry Potter then worked his magic for a 2nd time to pull a goal back for the Portsmouth side with a 7-yard strike (3-2). However, it was substitute Jack Davies who had the final word for Pan, heading the ball into the top corner of the goal from a long throw (4-2).
Final score: Pan 4-2 MOB Albion
Pan: Williams, S. Shepherd, Thorne, Williams, Piper (c), Dunkling, J. Gwilliam, R. Shepherd, Taylor, Gulliver, Lacey Subs: Davies, Hatton, Case, S. Gwilliam
After the game, a delighted Pan manager Steve Case said:
“The boys played out of their skin. We never did ourselves justice in the 1st half, but in the 2nd we ripped them apart.
“My man-of-the-match was Sam Shepherd, who never put a foot wrong all game.”
MOB Albion boss Alex Bone said:
“It was a good game. In fairness, Pan deserved the win. But if we had kept it 1-0 for longer and taken our chances, it could have been a different story.”
Reporter’s comment: Given the slippery playing conditions, partisan crowd and fierce tackling from both sides, a potentially difficult game to officiate was excellently refereed by Matt Sainsbury.
Wessex League results for Saturday 5th March 2022
Premier Division: Hamworthy United 4-2 Cowes Sports
Division 1: East Cowes Vics 4-1 Whitchurch United
Newport IoW P-P Andover Town
Isle of Wight results for Saturday 5th March 2022
Hampshire FA Saturday Trophy Semi-Finals
Brading Town P-P AFC Stoneham Reserves
Meon Milton 0-2 Shanklin
Hampshire FA Saturday Vase Semi-Final
Pan Community 4-2 MOB Albion
Hampshire FA Saturday Plate Semi-Final
Wroxall 1-4 Renegades 1st
Isle of Wight 1st Irish Rifles Memorial Cup -Third Round
Sponsored by Andy Butler Sports Ground Specialist
Carisbrooke United 2-3 West Wight
Cowes Sports Reserves 2-0 Northwood St Johns
East Cowes Sports 2-2 Vectis
High Park P-P Ryde Saints
Niton Community 0-4 Sandown & Lake
The Ken Morris IOW Junior ‘A’ Cup – 3rd round
Northwood St Johns Reserves 5-1 Shanklin Reserves
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 1
Binstead & COB 2-2 Oakfield
Whitecroft & Barton Sports 4-0 Bembridge
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 2
Adgestone 8-1 Ventnor
Seaview 0-2 Newchurch
Yarmouth & Calbourne P-P Osborne Coburg
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Combination Division 1
Ryde Saints 2-5 Osborne Coburg
Sandown & Lake 0-2 Bembridge
West Wight P-P Brading Town
Whitecroft & Barton Sports 0-0 Oakfield
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Combination Division 2
Bembridge ‘A’ P-P AFC Wootton
Newchurch 0-7 Ventnor
Vectis 2-4 East Cowes Sports
Results courtesy of Isle of Wight DFA
