Basingstoke ObserverHARTLEY Wintney captured the Aldershot Senior Cup at the EBB Stadium, Aldershot on Tuesday 17 May with a comfortable win over a spirited Fleet Town team.
The match was the final game of Anthony Millerick as team manager before he steps up to his new role at the club as Director of Football.
The Row were firm favourites going into the Final as they play two levels above Fleet. Hartley started well and on 3 minutes Kingsley Eshun combined with Adam Allen who set up Kyen Nickolas .The striker shot from close range and Fleet goalie Roux Hardcastle brought out a good save. Fleet responded and came close on 12 minutes. A long throw on the left found its way to Daniel Bone who saw his close range effort saved by Lewis Hoy in the Hartley goal.
The Town came close on 16 minutes when Billy Oram slipped Bone in and Hartley were relieved to see the strikers shot deflected over the bar. Hartley got a firm grip on the match and took the lead on 21 minutes following a quick break. Josh Webb fed an accurate pass through to Adam Allen who forced the ball past Hardcastle at the second attempt (0-1).
Four minutes later the Row doubled their lead. Nickolas and Kingsley Eshun combined well through the middle and the latter shot home (0-2).
Fleet had a good spell around the half hour mark and almost pulled a goal back on 33 minutes. Oram created space on the left and his cross found Matthew Pearse who saw his effort kept out by a combination of the post and Hoy.
HALF TIME: FLEET TOWN 0 HARTLEY WINTNEY 2
Hartley started the second half brightly and increased their lead on 50 minutes. Eshun went on a powerful run down the right and his low cross was turned into the net by Kyen Nickolas (0-3).
The Row dominated and added a fourth goal on 62 minutes. Lucias Vine made good progress through the middle and his pass saw Kyen Nickolas fire home for 15 yards (0-4).
To their credit Fleet showed plenty of spirit and almost pulled a goal back on 65 minutes. A corner from Oram found Bone who was unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar. However Fleet were not to be denied. A quick break saw a 3 versus 2 situation which Town worked well and Daniel Bone managed to scramble the ball home despite best efforts from Hoy in the Row goal (1-4).
Two minutes later good link up play between Vine and Webb saw the latter pull out a smart save from Hardcastle. On 73 minutes the Row added a fifth with the goal being an error by the Fleet goalkeeper Hardcastle. The Town goalie failed to control a back pass and Kofia Halloday took advantage to shoot into the empty net (1-5).
Oram worked a shooting chance for himself on 86 minutes and brought out a good save from Hoy. One minute later Oram delivered an accurate corner from the left and Daniel Bone headed home his second goal of the evening (2-5).
Hartley finished strongly and a Jake Rumble cross in the last minute found Vine who saw his drive well saved by Hardcastle
There was still time for Webb to send Nickolas through but striked was denied his hat trick with a good save from Hardcastle.
FULL TIME: FLEET TOWN 2 HARTLEY WINTNEY 5
