HAMPSHIRE INTERMEDIATE CUP FINAL

                             SHANKLIN 0, BRADING TOWN 4

IN FUTURE years when you look at the Isle of Wight's football history books, the scoreline would suggest a totally one-sided Hampshire Intermediate Cup final — but the reality is, it could have gone to the wire, but for two sending offs.

Brading were solid throughout and, on the face of it, deserved to lift the trophy they last won in 1976 — or 45 years ago.

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Isle of Wight County Press: Brading put pressure on the Shanklin goal early on in the final.Brading put pressure on the Shanklin goal early on in the final.

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

The Romans, the slight underdogs having finished below Shanklin in the league and beaten twice by them along the way, seemed to have gone equipped into the final with an excellent game plan that paid off handsomely.

Brading started the brighter, forcing a save from Dan Ward with a dangerous drilled cross from the right into the six yard box.

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But the opening 20 minutes saw both sides trying to find chinks in each other's armour, without really getting anywhere.

However, quite out of the blue, Brading took the lead on 23 minutes when Barry Calvert brilliantly rolled the defender on the edge of the Shanklin box and saw his shot deflect and bounce over the helpless Ward to score.

Brading started to look the hungrier side — more dangerous than Shanklin in the final third — as well as tenacious at the back, with Aaron Burford commanding.

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Ryan Hill leaped well to meet a Shanklin corner, but his header on the half hour flew just wide of the far post.

Then it was Harris Payne up the other end who struck his 25 yard shot well, but it was a good height for Ward to save comfortably.

Isle of Wight County Press: Dan Vale (in red, left) scores for Brading.Dan Vale (in red, left) scores for Brading.

Shanklin, just a goal down going into the second half, George Carter-Knight put Brading under enormous pressure when he whipped in two wicked corners for Shanklin, but Brading managed to clear their lines.

Things took a turn for the worst for Shanklin on 51 minutes when Wayne Newnham was red-carded for a silly off-the-ball incident.

Isle of Wight County Press: Celebrations after Vale scores.Celebrations after Vale scores.

Shanklin found it difficult to break Brading down before the sending off — and losing a man made it doubly difficult as they struggled to find any rhythm.

Blues defender Jason Smythers went into the book soon after for a late challenge as the match began to get more tense.

Less than ten minutes later, Smythers followed Newnham into the changing room for a second yellow — though his punishment for the challenge, which looked 50-50, seemed harsh.

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Playing with two men down now, Shanklin needed to regroup. A welcome drinks break in the searing heat gave manager Paul Haward a chance to have one final throw of the dice with his side being just a goal down.

However, within two minutes of the restart, the Romans doubled their lead,

A great save initially by Ward fell to Jordan Browne, who unselfishly set up his skipper, Dan Vale, to fire home into a virtually empty net on 74 minutes.

Isle of Wight County Press: Oli Wilson had only been on the field two minutes when he scored Brading's third.Oli Wilson had only been on the field two minutes when he scored Brading's third.

A minute later, Oli Wilson came on as a substitute and within two minutes he fires home following a precise cross from the left.

Brading Town looked comfortable now and Shanklin, totally deflated.

The reds added gloss to the scoreline when Calvert again was on the spot to bundle the ball home, following a dangerous cross from the right. 

Isle of Wight County Press: Barry Calvert scores his second and Brading's fourth.Barry Calvert scores his second and Brading's fourth.

Hunting for his hat-trick, Calvert almost scored a few minutes later with a fierce strike, well smothered by Ward.

Wilson then saw a great shot brilliantly tipped round the post by Ward and, in injury time, Calvert saw what looked like a certain fifth goal, superbly tipped wide again.

Afterwards, Brading chairman Geoff Ruck, said: "I am hugely proud of the boys. What a wonderful way to celebrate our club's 150th anniversary.

Isle of Wight County Press: Aaron Burford, left, was commanding at the back for Brading.Aaron Burford, left, was commanding at the back for Brading.

"It was a good final with some high quality football played. I'm absolutely delighted by the 'professional' way we went about things."

Shanklin: Ward, Scott-Jackson, Smythers, Seabrook (capt), Newnham, Fleming, Hill, R.Gregory, Drew, Wilson, Carter-Knight. Subs: Wright, Powell, Nash, Winterbottom, B.Gregory.

Brading Town: Hunt, Collins, Barnes, Payne, Knowles, Burford, Lawson, Josh Younie, Vale (capt), Browne, Calvert. Subs: Jake Younie, Bennett, Wilson, Oatley.

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