TADLEY CALL 6, ALRESFORD TN 2

ALRESFORD suffered an embarrassing defeat to Wessex League Division One side Tadley Calleva in the North Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday.

The Magpies made the ideal start at Barlows Park, but couldn’t follow it up. With just 90 seconds on the clock, Bill Puckett picked up possession and advanced to fire a perfect shot into the top right corner.

Tadley settled down and a good contest developed on a bumpy pitch. Puckett bundled the ball into the net from a free-kick, but the linesman had flagged for offside. Ben Dexter then headed wide from a Sam Carter free-kick.

Calleva drew level with an excellent goal of their own, James Tennant finding the back of the net from distance with a shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Soon after, John Howard made a fantastic save to deny Scott Kinge. But a minute before the break, Kinge met a low free-kick at the near post and Tadley had a lead they were never to lose.

Alresford centre-back Jamie Bentley limped off injured, to be replaced by Rian Jima-Otero, and the next goal was going to be crucial.

It was Tadley who got it. The visitors failed to clear a corner and Andrew Charsley drilled the ball home from the edge of the box.

Then James Milford’s assured finish at the far post made it 4-1 on 65 minutes.

Jima-Otero gave Alresford a glimmer of hope when he headed in Carter’s cross, but Calleva kept up the pressure and were rewarded with two more goals.

Substitute Toluwanimi Sotonye showed great skill on the edge of the box to work himself a little space and produce the perfect finish.

Tennant, outstanding throughout, bagged the sixth when he latched onto a neat pass and clipped the ball past the diving Howard.

Tadley, unbeaten since mid-September, were good value for their win, while Alresford will need to work on their defending after this trouncing.