The first round of the Hampshire Senior Cup will kick off on August 20, and Newport and Cowes Sports are both locked into the field. Both clubs have enjoyed success in the 137-year-old cup competition, but it has been over 25 years since they have claimed the title of champion. The Yachtsman has the second most Hampshire Senior Cup wins with nine, but they last did so back in 1967. Newport has the third most titles with eight, but their most recent title was back in 1998. Both squads come in with high hopes of ending their respective droughts, but the road to victory will not be easy. Below, we will break down how these clubs stack up against the field and share everything you need to know before the Cup kicks off.
Newport Cup Preview
Port enters the season looking to avenge a disappointing 2023 campaign. While the demotion was demoralizing, the club started the 2024 season with a bang. They rolled to a 5-1 victory over visiting Lymington Town, sending an early statement to the rest of the league. Last year’s Cup did not treat this club well. They were clobbered in the first round, losing 0-4 to Baffins Milton Rovers. Things won’t be much easier this year as they face Millbrook in the first round. The Premier Division Club has started the season with a draw and a loss but finished second in Division One last season. The player to watch for Port will be captain Jordan Browne. He had an impressive hat trick to open the season and looks ready for a big season in Division One. Also, keep an eye on 16-year-old Kai Grace, who made his debut in the season opener. The talented young striker entered the game in the 72nd minute and came close to adding his first goal. We’ll see if he finds the field against Millbrook in the first round.
Cowes Sports Cup Preview
The Yachtsmen enter this year’s cup looking to improve on their 2023 results. The club managed a first-round win against Premier Division rival Hythe & Dibden. The match was scoreless through regulation, but the Yachtsmen won 4-2 in penalty kicks. The victory set them up with a brutal second-round matchup against Southampton that saw them lose 4-2. The club will face an easier test in the first round of this year’s Cup. They are slated to face off against Division One’s Romsey Town. The Town won a preliminary round match 2-1 against Fawley AFC to advance to the first round. While their first-round matchup is favorable, a win is far from guaranteed. There are many questions about the team’s health, with Ryan Oatley, Liam Triggs, Joe Jancock, Ollie West, and George Colson all dealing with injuries. If the Yachtsmen end up missing two or more of those players, it could lead to a first-round upset for The Town. The good news is that the first round is still over a week away, giving the club time to get healthy and into form.
Favorites to Win the Cup
While Port and the Yachtsmen have high hopes for this year’s tournament, they are not among the betting favorites to take home the title. AFC Portchester won last year’s Hampshire Senior Cup and entered as a favorite to do so again this season. The club started their Wessex Premier League season with a 3-0 and is expected to again finish among the top five. Baffins Milton Rovers is another club being mentioned in football betting tips for this year’s winner. The club advanced to the third round of last year’s tournament and finished fifth in the Premier Division. We’ll see just how good this Rovers squad is as they face off against a Bournemouth club that went to the semi-finals in last season’s Cup. Lastly, we have AFC Stoneham. The club lost a close match to Southampton in the third round of last year’s cup and finished second in the Premier Division. Southampton isn’t in this year’s field, meaning Stoneham’s path to a championship is a bit smoother. They will kick off the first round with a matchup against Totton & Eling, who finished fifteenth in Division One last season.
