IN THE fourth round of the Hampshire Cup, a determined Whitecroft & Barton team fought back to chalk up another win, defeating a visiting Bush Hill side by four goals to two.

Out for revenge after losing out to the very same opposition last year, victory looked a tall order for the home team after falling a goal behind and struggling to assert themselves.

Conceding early after the break ­— following a first half devoid of clear chances or quality ­— Whitecroft pulled one back from a set piece on 64 minutes, with Graeme BAST applying the finishing touch.

Ten minutes later ­— a man down and with Whitecroft in the ascendancy ­— the visitors capitalised on a defensive blunder to restore their lead.

Whitecroft levelled just four minutes later, with Freddy Knowles' fierce effort forcing a save, and Keelan SAINSBURY latching onto the loose ball to slot home his team's second.

Brimming with confidence, the home side pressed for a third, and were rewarded on the 80 minute mark, when Jack East drew a foul from a Bush Hill defender on the edge of the box.

KNOWLES took the resultant free kick and blasted the ball into the back of the net, giving his team a belated but deserved lead.

Seven minutes later, Aiden SAINSBURY combined well with Knowles to apply some gloss to the scoreline, and the game ended 4-2

Over in the Wessex Premier League, a struggling Cowes Sports side were the architects of their own downfall, losing 3-2 on the road to Horndean.

Defensive errors separated the two teams, and the visitors fell a goal behind on six minutes­.

The Yachtsman levelled ten minutes later when Michael MCENERY applied the finishing touch to a sumptuous sequence of passes.

Cowes showed plenty of endeavour, but it was the visitors who restored their lead to go into the break ahead.

Early in the second half, the Yachtsman found an equaliser when Finley Phillips’ shot forced a save from the goalkeeper, who’s parry sent the ball into the path of James WYKES to blast home.

Not five minutes later, the visitors were punished again for another defensive error, and squandered a late spot kick on 75 minutes.

In Wessex Division 1, fellow strugglers East Cowes Vics were comprehensively beaten on their away trip to Harlequins, losing 5-1.

The visitors started the game the brightest and tested the opposition's goal early, winning a corner which was almost converted.

Vics almost took the lead on 25 minutes when a shot was cleared off the line, but the deadlock was broken on 35 minutes when the hosts unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from close range.

Second half, the Vics grabbed an equaliser on the 53 minute mark ­— Jimmi BURTON fed by Creese and finishing emphatically with the goal at his mercy.

The visitors held on until the 70 minute mark, when the hosts restored their lead ­— keeper Steinborn-Busse parrying the ball straight into the path of a Harlequin forward.

It got worse for the Island side when a third went in on 78 minutes, and a fourth on 92 minutes ­— killing the game.

The Harlequins made it five in the closing seconds of the game.

Connor Kelly bagged a hattrick as Newport dismantled a visiting New Milton side, winning 7-1 and dominating throughout.

Jordan BROWNE opened the scoring on the four minute mark, receiving the ball from Mark Hughes and finishing from an acute angle.

Kelly and Browne combined well to force a save on 10 minutes, and Lewis WRIGHT made it 2-0 16 minutes later, gathering the ball inside the penalty box and squeezing it past the keeper's outstretched hand.

Ten minutes later, Joe CRAIG made it three, weaving his way into the box and dribbling past several defenders to score.

A minute shy of the break, the flood gates opened when the ball bobbled around in the box and fell kindly for Scott SAMPSON to head over the keeper and into the back of the net.

Second half, KELLY broke free of the Milton defence and scored his first of the afternoon, coolly slotting home after finding himself one-on-one with the keeper.

On the 67 minute mark, KELLY rounded the keeper to score his brace, and completed his hattrick 20 minutes later.

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Sydenhams Wessex Premier: Horndean 3, Cowes Sports 2.

Division 1: Newport 7, New Milton Town 1; Harlequins 5, East Cowes Vics 1.

Hants FA Trophy, fourth round: Brading Town 3, Frimley Select 0; Fareham Town Res 5, Northwood 2; W&B 4, Bush Hill 2.

Hants FA Vase, fourth round: Harvest Home 2, W&B Reserves 0.

Hants FA Plate, third round: Ryde Saints Reserves 1, Brading Town 7.

Andy Butler IW Cup, first round: Newchurch 1, Seaview 1; Niton Community 3, Wootton 1.

Harwoods Renault Island League, Division 1: Bembridge 2, Ventnor 2; Carisbrooke United 0, Shanklin 7; Cowes Sports Res 3, West Wight 0.

Division 2: East Cowes Vics Res 2, Yarmouth & Calb 6; Newchurch 6, Seaview 5; Niton 3, Wootton 1; Vectis 3, Adgestone 0.