In a gripping and hard-fought semi-final, Prince’s Mead emerged victorious with a 3-2 win over Weeke Primary, securing their place in the Hampshire Cup final. The match was an intense affair with two evenly matched teams, and despite the score line, it was a game that could have gone either way.
The opening half was a tense, tactical battle, with both teams showing excellent defensive discipline and a determination to stay compact. Weeke Primary’s physical style was evident from the outset, as they sought to impose themselves with high pressing and quick counters. Prince’s Mead, meanwhile, played a more patient passing game, looking for openings but finding Weeke’s defense a tough nut to crack.
Despite both teams pushing forward at times, the first 25 minutes passed without a goal. Several half-chances fell to both sides, but neither could break the deadlock, with Prince’s Mead’s goalkeeper and the Weeke keeper both making important saves to ensure the match remained 0-0 at halftime.
The second half started with a bang as Prince’s Mead came out with renewed intent. Within the first 10 minutes, they scored twice in quick succession to take a 2-0 lead. The first came from an opportunity from a fumble from the Weeke keeper, which found the bottom corner after a great shot initially on target. Not long after, we received the ball at the top of the box and from the first touch, turned and hit it first time to find the bottom corner.
However, Weeke Primary were far from beaten. They showed immense resilience and quickly responded with a penalty just minutes after going 2-0 down. A Prince’s Mead defender was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area, and Weeke’s striker confidently stepped up to convert the penalty, making it 2-1. The goal sparked renewed belief in the Weeke ranks, and they pushed hard for an equaliser.
Just a few minutes later, that equaliser came in dramatic fashion. A scramble in the Prince’s Mead penalty area after a number of fantastic saves from saw the ball fall to a Weeke forward, who was quickest to react and smashed it into the net, making it 2-2 and setting up an exciting final few minutes of normal time. Both teams threw everything at each other in the final stages, but neither could find a winner before the final whistle.
The match then went into extra time, with the score level at 2-2. The 3-minute periods were an exhausting test of endurance and concentration for both teams. There were moments when either side could have snatched victory, with chances at both ends, but neither team could capitalise.
With just 90 seconds remaining in the second period of extra time, Prince’s Mead found their breakthrough. A blocked shot, fell kindly to Prince’s Mead who calmly slotted the winner with a first touch to send the players into a frenzy. There was still 90 seconds remaining which felt an age, but the final whistle blew, confirming Prince’s Mead’s 3-2 win.
The match was a fantastic spectacle, filled with skill, drama, and sportsmanship. Both teams played with intensity but never crossed the line, and their respect for each other was evident throughout. Prince’s Mead now head to the final, while Weeke Primary can be proud of their spirited performance.