WLC F Hamble Club 3 AFC Stoneham 2

4 May 2026

OK so it’s been nine days since I had a report for you.  What’s happened in those nine days?  Well, Fareham and Stoneham made it through to the Russell Cotes Cup final, due to be played this Thursday.  Fleetlands duly wrapped up the Division One title, congratulations to them (and for us, the joys of Powder Monkey Park!).  And in the playoffs, Whitchurch won away at flying Follands; and Yateley beat Colden Common in a fixture which had to be reversed because (long story, mostly about Portishead Town).  And then on Saturday, Yateley completed one of the most remarkable promotion stories when they won the final 6-1 in front of a crowd of 908… yes, you read that correctly, they won 6-1, in front of a crowd of 908!  Yateley had two points from their first 8 games and here they are, promoted to Step 5 – what an achievement.  Very unlikely that we’ll see them in the Premier next season because it seems inevitable that they’ll move sideways. 

Anyway, to today.  League Cup Final, third year in a row for Hamble Club with one victory and one defeat – and for the second year in a row, a match against the league champions who were looking for the league and cup double.  For the Purps, the first of four cup finals as their closing games of the season over the next two weeks, culminating at Wembley…

A brilliantly entertaining, brilliantly intense game, worthy of a cup final – edged by the Monks who twice came from behind before claiming the trophy for the second time in three years.  Hamble almost made the perfect start: 30 seconds on the clock, a chipped pass over the top to Braydon Douglas, in behind the defence, lobbed keeper Callum Lee – bounced back off the bar.  Early warning!  Douglas continued to be the obvious out-ball, even after Stoneham settled and worked their way comfortably into the game – three further times that he was sent clear down the right, one near post shot and two crosses which were scrambled away.  But on 15 minutes, the Purps took the lead with a wonderful goal, Duarte Martins securing the ball down the left wing and a perfect pass laid back to Tyrrell Sampson, who took the ball into the box and shot across Newman into the far corner.  Not a cardinal error from the keeper – just a very fine finish.  Any thoughts that the pattern was set were quickly dispelled – the Monks came straight back, Taylor put in a cross which was only half-cleared to the edge of the box and Matt Casey rifled into the roof of the net to level things up on 17.  Overall, Stoneham were enjoying more of the possession and staying calm on the ball, but Hamble had their outlets, especially Douglas, and both teams were keeping each other honest.  Almost a second for Stoneham on 27 – a deep free kick from Fee to the back post, superb leap and downward header from Martins, brilliantly saved by Henry Newman.  The Purps were having to stay switched on in defence but they were coping pretty well and they did duly re-take the lead from a corner – this wasn’t a beautiful goal, players and ball in a ruck inside the box, both sides claiming for fouls before Martins poked home.  Martins might then have slid Sampson in on goal but his pass was short… up the other end, Douglas again, excellent challenge from Cade Dyer led to a corner, cleared upfield by Stoneham to Fee who took the ball down, beat his man and played what looked like the perfect cross to Sampson, whose shot whistled over.  It would have been another belter of a goal, but not to be.  HT 1-2

OK, second half – Hamble Club locked on from the start, coping well with some lovely flowing football from Stoneham which brought no clear chances.  Even so, the Monks needed a spark and on 58 minutes they brought on Chase Michel, curiously referred to all afternoon by the announcer as Michael Chase – and within a minute he had them level, another great run by my man of the match Braydon Douglas, Miller should have done better but Douglas whipped in a great cross and Michel was brave and got the connection inside the six-yard box.  Three minutes later, Chase again, drifting past players and cutting inside, taken out on the edge of the box: Douglas stepped up and scored from 20 yards to put the Monks in front.  It looked pretty central but there didn’t seem to be a deflection – either way, 3-2, half an hour to play.  The wonder is that there were no more goals, Hamble should have had one within two minutes when Douglas put in another outstanding cross and Michel this time made no contact as the ball whistled through everything.  More flowing football from Stoneham, this time inspired by sub Lewis Nagle – Sampson’s shot went just wide of the far post.  74 minutes,  a header from Dan Miller hit the inside of the post and seemed to bounce back into Newman’s grateful arms… five minutes to go, Martins hooked a shot from the edge of the box which went just over the bar… but by now Stoneham were getting a bit frantic and had forgotten to play, which was just fine by the resilient Monks.  One long ball to Sampson but he was completely isolated and was crowded out and shot wide.  And then the dramatic final note – three minutes into stoppage time, one last desperate attack, Callum Laycock seemed to have levelled things up for Stoneham but there were loud complaints from the Monks and after consulting with his assistant, referee Kettley disallowed the goal and showed Laycock a red card.  Too far away for me to see – and the assistant on our side also had no idea what had happened – so apologies for that.  Hamble saw out the remaining minutes and that was that.  FT 3-2

Congratulations to Hamble Club – two League Cup wins in three seasons, no small feat.  And this was a very impressive performance because it was a proper game, well-contested, two teams committed to attack and solid in defence, very enjoyable indeed for the neutral.  Chase Michel will get the plaudits no doubt, because his two moments turned the game, but Braydon Douglas was superb on the right as he so often is and he was tormentor in chief.  Stoneham didn’t really do a lot wrong, except maybe not making the most of some great positions and then losing their composure a little as the game drew on (and I don’t mean the red card!).  So for Hamble, that’s the end of a highly successful season.  For Stoneham, it’s on to Thursday and the Russell Cotes Cup final against Fareham Town, good luck to them for that.