Pater Raynbird Reviews the only game to survive the weather

All but one of the ten matches scheduled to take place on Saturday survived place as the heavy rain took its toll throughout the area.

It was at Preston Candover where the Hampshire Junior ‘A’ Cup Fourth Round tie between Twenyten FC and Brighstone FC survived, thanks mainly to Dennis Smith the groundsman, who swept and forked the pick from 10 am and did a remarkable job to enable the match to take place.

Manager Alan Spacagna and the Twentyten players would like to place on record their thanks to Dennis for his efforts and they were rewarded by going through to the last eight of the completion after winning 6-3.

The visitors, who hale from the Isle of Wight, are top of the Island League and came to Preston Candover with an unbeaten record and although they took an early lead, by half time they were trailing 5-1. It was from a 10th minute penalty, conceded by keeper Jack Nicholson that saw the Basingstoke team behind. It was in the 20th minute when the equalizer came. Joe Osborne was the inspiration behind this attack, as he was in most. He played through to Ryan Lupton, his pass found Jack Clarke and the low shot beat the keeper from the edge of the penalty area.

There than came a magic spell from Twentyten that was to see them overwhelm the opposition. It was in the 30th minute when good play by Jordon Wainwright out on the left, beat his man and his cross was met by Osborne for the lead. In the 38th Lupton, in fine form playing up front, linked up with Clarke who fired in his second. Two minutes later it was 4-1 and this one was the goal of the game when Christian Cox played a one two with Jake Tanner, who slammed in a powerful 30 yard shot that flew into the top corner.

Twentyten were not finished for their fifth came on half time when Osborne cut in, was brought down in the box: Clarke was given the opportunity to complete his hat trick from the penalty kick, but it was saved and Wainwright followed up to net the rebound.

Brighstone started the second half well and pulled a goal back following a corner in the 60th minute, but ten minutes later good play by Osborne led to a perfect low cross for substitute Carl Pearson to score their sixth.

Heavy rain returned for the final fifteen minutes when the visitors managed to break through to score their third goal.

The other Hants ‘A’ Cup ties between Tadley Calleva fc ‘A’ and SparTen FC from Andover and the Ryde Saints FC v Hook FC will be put back on this Saturday as will the Hampshire Junior ‘B’ Cup Fourth Round tie at Newfound between Tron FC and Basingstoke United FC.