Fleet Town 2-1 AFC Totton

Hampshire Senior Cup

Match Report by Steve Cantle

Superb finishing from new strike pair, Steve Whitcher and Craig Leworthy saw Fleet brush aside one of the top Wessex league sides, Totton, on Saturday, to reach the last 16 of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

The two goals, one from each striker came during a five minute spell half-way through the second-half, and put an end to some stubborn resistance from a tough Totton side.

Coming after a superb win in midweek at Bashley, Saturday's win again showed the progress of the new-look Fleet side ahead of crucial league matches against Hastings and Chatham on Tuesday and Saturday of this week.

Mick Catlin's side now need to show they can maintain their recent winning form and pick up points against two of the weaker Southern League sides.

Catlin was able to name an unchanged starting line-up for Saturday's game, but on the bench was 18 year-old Leworthy, who had missed the midweek game at Bashley, through injury. With keeper Steve May not likely to return for several more weeks after being injured in the Newport IoW game, Catlin was able to call on new signing, 21 year-old, Calvin Sparshatt, who had impressed in his first two games since joining from the Havant & Waterlooville club.  

The young keeper had little to do during a quiet first-half, in which the defences on both sides gave little away. Fleet's best chance in the 25th minute came after striker Shea Saunders blocked a clearance from Totton keeper, Ben Sawyer. The ball was picked up by Whitcher and his neat overhead flip shot hit the bar and bounced away safely.

Totton wingman, Mark Clothier then had a great chance to put his side ahead, but his shot flew wildly over the bar.

Scoreless at the break, Fleet then came out strongly in the second half. Immediately a move down the left by Shaun Hale set up a chance for mid-fielder Steve Black. But Black's shot was just wide of the upright.

12 minutes into the new half, Catlin was forced to bring on Leworthy after Saunders had to hobble off with a badly bruised foot.

Fleet then immediately won a free-kick just outside the 18 yard box, and from a well-worked move Hale was only inches out with his shot from close range.

Against the run of play, the visitors then opened the scoring two minutes later, when from a free-kick, Clothier was able to rise above his marker to score with a powerful header that gave Sparshatt no chance in the Fleet goal.

For the next 20 minutes Fleet raised the tempo and quality of their play, and immediately Sawyer was in action saving well from a well-struck shot from Leworthy.

Fleet finally broke through in the 70th minute, when a great pass from skipper, Craig Anstey picked out Whitcher, who scored his first goal for his new club with a fierce angled shot into the far corner of the net.

Six minutes later Fleet took the lead; Leworthy running on to a through ball from Black and neatly chipping the keeper from close range.

The visitors kept going well for the final 15 minutes, but with Anstey again putting in a great performance in his new role as sweeper, Fleet were able to stay ahead for a well-deserved place in the next round of the competition.

FLEET TOWN: Sparshatt, Proctor, Millerick, Hare, Jeffrey, Ian Saunders, Black, Anstey, Shea Saunders, (sub, Leworthy, 57 mins), Whitcher, Hale. Subs not used: Blakeley, Buckland, Steele Saunders.