Alresford Town 1, Hamble Club 2

A much-changed Alresford Town side bowed out of the Wessex League Cup at the quarter-final stage at Arlebury Park on Tuesday night.

Fielding five youngsters, the Magpies took the lead through a Sam Tonks strike just after the half-hour mark, a lead they maintained until half-time.

But John McKie equalised for Hamble five minutes into the second half before netting a late winner five minutes from time to set up a semi-final tie against either Totton & Eling or Portland United.

Arlesford’s full attention now turns to their quest for promotion, starting with a home game against lowly Bournemouth at Arlebury Park on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) and a trip to Portsmouth to face Baffins Milton Rovers next Tuesday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

With only the Premier Division champions guaranteed to go up into the Southern League, with the runners-up in a points-per-game lottery with second-placed sides in other leagues, Alresford currently lie second, one point behind leaders AFC Stoneham but with a game in hand.