Match Report 2000/2001Linnets survive storm to reach semisThursday 1st February 2001 : Hants Senior Cup Quarter FinalLymington & New Milton 4, Newport (IoW) 0 |
Although the result may appear decisive, both sides
might yet experience the wrath of the Hampshire F.A. in the wake of an
ill-tempered match at Fawcett's Field. Six players were booked and one
dismissed during the match while off the field, a confrontation took place at
half-time involving Linnets' boss Derek Binns, assistant Alan Farrar and a
member of the Newport coaching staff in full view of watching officials from
the Hants F.A.
As the players were leaving the field, the three men
became involved in an altercation during which it appeared that punches were
thrown, before players from both sides came running back from the dressing
rooms to calm the situation. This argument appeared to result from an attempt
by the Newport representative to remonstrate with the referee over an incident
during the first-half when Newport's Leigh Cole had been stretchered off the
field and taken to hospital, following a clash of heads with Linnets' player
Mark Smith.
Four Lymington & New Milton players were booked, Jason
Stride, Matt Hussey, Mark Smith and Steve Strong and they were joined in the
referee's notebook by Gary Sperry and Steve Leigh of Newport, while Newport's
goalkeeper Colin Matthews was sent off with twenty minutes to play after aiming
a kick at Linnets' striker Leigh Phillips right under the referee's nose.
Matthews reacted aggresively to an apparent taunt from Phillips following the
third goal and was immediately shown the red card. Sperry could count himself
lucky not to have beaten his team-mate to an early bath, following a nasty
tackle on Paul Morris.
All of this madness cast a shadow over what had
been a superb performance from the home side who triumphed through goals from
Stuart Hussey (2), Leigh Phillips and Matt Town, while
Steve Leigh missed a penalty for the Islanders. After the match the referee
declined to comment on precisely what would appear in his official report while
the Hants F.A. were keeping their options open by not issuing any statement
until they had scrutinised the referee's submission.
Lymington &
New Milton : Kearn, Stride, Gazzard, Kemp, Morris, B. Phillips, Miles
(Strong), Smith, L. Phillips (Keeping), S. Hussey (Town), M. Hussey.
Match reports on this site are based on those appearing in the New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times (except where separately credited) with additional material from my own resources where relevant.