Romsey Town FC had one of its best weeks since the beginning of the season with the club’s two sides both collecting victories.
Last weekend Town’s first team enjoyed their first taste of Cup success when they clinically disposed of Nursling in the SDFA Cup at the Bypass Ground.
Town roared into a 6-0 HT lead with goals from Josh Harvey (3), Pedro Carvalho (2) and James Ferguson.
A physical Nursling side responded after the break and although they did score, Town eased into the next round with a further goal from Kadeem Price to make the final score 7-1.
After the game head coach James Phillips was very pleased with both the performance and the result.
“Despite the scoreline, today’s game was a very difficult one for us,” he said.
“Nursling came with a physical game plan but the lads kept their discipline and let their football do the talking.
“I was also delighted to have signed young Oliver Bailey, who’s made his way through the Southampton Academy and is an outstanding striker who will give us an additional attacking threat.”
Whilst the first team were enjoying home success, the club’s development side also enjoyed a fine win and performance away at AFC Fawley.
With Jean Snelgrove, head coach of the development side, away for the weekend, Rob Blandford took on the management duties and saw his charges secure a 5-1 victory.
Matt Hardy was in imperious form as he struck all five for Town to move them level on points at the top of the Wyvern Combination League table with pre-season favourites Hythe & Debden.
“It was a great result for us today,” said a delighted Blandford.
“We tweaked a few things at half time which gave us a better balance and I thought we fully deserved our win.
“Matt Hardy was a real handful today and Fawley just couldn’t handle him.
“I was pleased for him to get his goals but more than that it was another good performance from a young side that’s enjoying that winning feeling and developing all the time.”
l On Tuesday night Town lost 2-1 to Wessex Premier high fliers Moneyfields at the Bypass Ground in the Russell Cotes Cup.
Indrit Elezi, Padro Carvalho, Ryan Merrick and Josh Harvey all went close as Romsey took the game to their higher league opponents.
Moneyfields had a man dismissed midway through the second half and it proved to be a turning point as ten man Moneyfields rallied themselves and took the lead in controversial circumstances.
A clear free kick to Town was not awarded and, instead, Moneyfields got a free-kick for a lesser foul just seconds later, from which they scored their opener.
Unbelievably, Romsey conceded a second a few minutes later.
To their credit, Romsey continued to play their football and create chances. Merrick flashed a shot just wide, Harvey and Kadeem Price both had efforts clear the bar whilst Elezi had an effort well saved.
Town did get their reward for playing their part in a hugely entertaining game when Josh Harvey scored his fourth goal in a week in the dying seconds.
Although Town boss Phillips was disappointed with being knocked out of the Russell Cotes Cup he was clearly delighted with his side overall. “A few weeks ago we got turned over 8-0 by Lymington Town in the FA Vase and tonight we lost 2-1 to Moneyfields who are fourth in the same league as Lymington having lost just once all season.”
“That’s how far this side have come and I think it’s fair to say that tonight the better football was played by us, the better chances were created by us and if the right decisions went our way we would be standing here now talking about a Romsey Town victory and Cup upset.”
Romsey Town take on Hythe & Dibden in their Sydenhams Wessex League Division 1 encounter at the Bypass Ground (3pmKO) whilst the development squad also play Hythe & Dibden in their Wyvern Combination Division 1 top of the table clash at the Ewart Recreation Ground (3pm KO).
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