Late fightback too late as Brading Reserves lose Plate final

BRADING Town Reserves went in to their Hampshire Plate final full of confidence against a team of virtual unknowns from Southampton.

But that confidence was severely dented after they failed to beat a side who went down to ten men with more than two-thirds of the game still remaining.

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There was plenty of commitment from Brading Reserves (in red), but they lacked quality.

Read: Brading Town win Hampshire silverware in proud day for club

The Brading goal was put under pressure with just two minutes on the clock — and Testlands only had to wait four more before taking the lead, when a cross from the right found a lone striker totally unmarked, who coolly smashed it into the corner with keeper, Glen Woods, rooted.

Brading’s heads seemed to drop — and Testlands could sense it.

Some strong challenges started to go in from both teams as they tried to impose themselves on the game — and there were some tetchy moments.

Action from the Hampshire Plate final. Photo: Hampshire FA

But it was Testlands who looked the more dangerous and, from a free kick drifted into the box on 15 minutes, a header looped across goal and struck the post, with a follow up cross and unmarked header put just wide, to Brading’s relief.

Thanks to good save by the Brading keeper, it could have been a second two minutes later.

Brading seemed to have no spark, frustrating their supporters with a string of misplaced passes.

Brading put the Testlands keeper under pressure in the first half.

But the Islanders were given a glimmer of hope of getting on top in the final after Testlands striker Haines was sent off for petulantly kicking out against a Brading player after 27 minutes.

However, you would never had guessed there was a man's difference, with Testlands still on top — missing a couple of gilt-edged chances before doubling their lead on 34 minutes.

A poor clearance was picked up about 40 yards out and a slide rule pass left the Brading players ball watching as a shot from the left, just inside the box, beat the Brading keeper at the near post.

Action between Brading Reserves and Testlands. Photo: Hampshire FA

Brading failed to register a shot until they had a free kick on 40 minutes — striker Louis Strickland beating the wall from 25 yards, but curling it a yard wide.  

The half-time team talk from Brading boss Ash Oliver failed to spark his side into life. In fact, the pace in the searing heat dropped dramatically to almost walking at times.

Testlands looked comfortable in defence and you wondered when (or if) Brading would get a shot on target.

Brading's Max Fallone given his marching orders following an off-the-ball incident.

The Southampton side continued to look the more dangerous in attack. They almost made it 3-0 on 70 minutes with a strike from just inside the box, which flew over the bar.

Two minutes later, Brading got their first shot on target when their skipper, Tim Shaw, was put clean through on goal, but his shot was struck straight at the keeper.

Testlands fluffed an open goal opportunity in the 85th minute, but any chance Brading had of lifting the cup ended when Max Fallone was sent off for an off the ball incident.

Brading substitute Alex Boirand caused problems for Testlands in the latter stages of the Plate final.

The sending off seemed to cause some minor crowd trouble between Fallone and some of the Testland fans as he walked off.

With game fizzling out into injury time, Brading, completely out of the blue, scored from a downward header from lively sub, Alex Boirand, which seemed to take the Testlands keeper completely by surprise.

With seconds remaining, they almost did a mission possible when the same player poked the ball goalwards in a 20-man melee, but the keeper deflected it wide.

Brading Reserves: Woods, Woodnutt, Trundle, Woodhouse, Davison, Powell, Shaw (capt), Fallone, Dennett, Strickland, Robjant. Subs: Boirand, Bligh, Charman, Vokins, Oxenham.

Read full report with pictures in this Friday's County Press. 

Brading Reserves players dejected after almost equalising at the death.