Hemmings strike books second cup-final place for Fleet

Report by Steve Cantle

A Steve Hemmings header just before half-time was enough to carry Fleet through to their second Hampshire final of the season.

It was a scrappy game, but the result means a chance for Andy Sinton's side to regain a trophy last won four years ago. The opponents in the final will be Wessex League side, Gosport Borough and the tie is provisionally slated to be played on their ground on the evening of Thursday 10th May.

With the final league game to come at the end of the week, and a further cup semi-final to be played on Thursday, Sinton understandably rested most of his first-team side. So Tuesday night's line-up included only four players who started in Saturday's league game against Croydon Athletic; Will Salmon, Adam Wallace, Nathan Smart and keeper Paul Smith.

Inevitably, players with little first-team match practice found it hard to gel as a team. Early on this was evident by some poor clearance-work out of defence. From one of these in the opening minutes the visitors were gifted with an easy chance to score. But striker, Ross Carmichael shot wildly, somehow lifting the ball over the bar from barely three yards out. It turned out to be Lymington's only chance of the game, as gradually Fleet settled down.

For the rest of the first half the ball rarely left the Lymington half of the pitch, but Fleet failed to capitalise on their dominance of possession. It was not until the 44th minute that their first chance came. A Phil John free-kick was knocked away by the Lymington defence, but was quickly recovered by Elliot Capel. His cross found the head of Steve Hemmings at the far post, who had a simple nod-in to score easily.

After the break, Fleet continued to dominate but some wayward finishing by Capel, Ben White and late-on, sub, James Field kept their advantage down to the single goal. In the final 15 minutes Lymington pressed hard for an equaliser, without seriously testing keeper Smith.

League results on Tuesday night have finally ruled out Fleet's chance to win the one automatic promotion place from the Ryman Division One South. But Maidstone's point at Ashford from a 1-1 draw and Dover's 5-0 thrashing of Corinthian Casuals makes the league title still wide open with any one of three sides possible winners; Maidstone, Tooting & Mitcham or even Dover.