Match Reports by John Hutchings

6.9.25. Hamworthy Recreation 0 Petersfield Town 2

A bad day at the office for Rec, as they paid the price for two bad defensive mistakes. Rec were the better side for the opening thirty minutes, but failed to mark their superiority with a goal. Petersfield defended well when under pressure and produced two goals in the last 10 minutes of the first half, which won them the game. Rec’s cause was not helped when Aaron Roberts picked up a second yellow at the start of the second half, which made the task even more difficult.

Rec started well and Eddie Hodge played a neat 1-2 with Max Wilcock, but saw his shot saved by Grant, in the Petersfield goal. Then Tom Fu swung over a great cross which was headed away for a corner, before Wilcock cut in and shot, but again, easily saved by Grant. Wilcock’s header was blocked by a defender, with Ben Satterley heading the follow up past the post.

After being under pressure Petersfield stunned Rec with a goal, on 36m. Webb launched a long throw into the box. Rec failed to deal with it and EVERETT was at the far post to head in.

There were more problems for Rec right on the interval, when Kimber’s free-kick was headed back across goal for CABLE to bundle the ball in, on the line.

HT 0-2.

Within a few minutes of the restart Rec were a man down, with Roberts’ dismissal. Sub, Chris Long came on and was immediately in the action, poking a ball from Hodge just past the post. Sean Wright tried his luck from distance, again, just wide, as Rec sensed this was not to be their day.

The Rams then missed a chance of a third, when Cable played in Kimber, who blazed over.

Rec had a spell of late pressure, with a succession of corners, but the Rams defence were in superb form and dealt with all Rec could muster. The last chance fell to Satterley, who fired high over the bar, to sum up Rec’s day.

FT 0-2.

30.8.25. Baffins Milton Rovers 1 Hamworthy Rec 1

A hard-earned point for Rec in the wind and rain at Baffins. The hosts bossed the first half and Rec were grateful to reach the interval at 0-0. When Baffins took an early second half lead things looked bleak for Rec, but to their credit they rallied, raised their game and forced an equaliser. In the end they had chances to pinch a winner, but were pleased to go home with a draw against an impressive home side. Baffins started well with Beale firing a low shot wide. For Rec, Chris Long set up Josh Toop, only for the offside flag to be raised. But on 9m Baffins won a penalty when Bell was upended. Beale stepped up for the spot-kick, only for Rec keeper, Shane Murphy, to make a great save, diving to his right.

Back came the hosts and the lively Burrows was twice denied by Murphy. Rec were struggling to create chances, the closest they came was from Aaron Roberts, whose attempt was saved by Kramer, in the home goal.

Right on the break the hosts went close again, when Burrows’ shot clipped the top of the bar and went over. HT 0-0.

Baffins started the second as they finished the first, with Parish rolling a shot against the post, before they went in front on 51m. An incisive move was finished off beautifully by BEALE, drilling his shot into the top corner beyond Murphy.

But with the wind and rain in their faces Rec rallied and had a good spell. Tom Blair weaved his way down the left and saw his shot clip the post and rebound nicely for Kramer. Then Eddie Hodge flashed a shot across the face of goal and sub, Ash Pope, was narrowly wide. Rec pressure paid off on 69m, when Henry Balham did well to set up a chance for POPE, who smashed in a beauty, to make it 1-1.

Rec were now playing with confidence and Toop fired across goal and put another chance wide, before Blair cut in and fired wide and Hodge saw his cross cum shot to the far post headed away by Simm.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the closing minutes, when Ford, for the hosts, saw red for a foul, followed by Blair for an off the ball incident - a shame, because it was not that sort of game.

With Rec happy to play out for a draw Baffins could have won it, in the last minute, when Cornwall headed a good chance wide.

FT 1-1.

19.8.25. Hamworthy Recreation 2 Portland United 1

A really hard-earned win for Rec, under the lights at the Meyson Properties Stadium. Portland came into the game in second place and put Rec under early pressure and probably edged a goalless first half. Both teams scored early in the second half, with Rec hitting the winner fifteen minutes from time. There was drama in stoppage time, with the Blues scrambling the ball in, following a free-kick, only for it to be ruled out for offside - much to Rec’s relief.

Portland started well and Woolsford jinked down the left to tee up Borthwick, whose shot was heading for the top corner, only for Rec keeper, Shane Murphy, to brilliantly tip the ball over. From the resulting corner Corbridge headed over. Rec replied with Max Wilcock just failing to get contact on Chris Long’s cross. Then Tony Rolls’ ball into the box fell for Sean Wright, but his shot was wide of the left-hand post.

Back came the visitors and the dangerous Borthwick fired a decent chance wide and Woolsford finished off a neat move by poking his shot wide. HT 0-0.

Rec went in front within two minutes of the re-start. Wilcock won an early foul, about ten yards outside the box. Up stepped TOM BLAIR to fire in a sumptuous free-kick, which gave Portland keeper, Foden, no chance. But Rec’s delight was short-lived, as from the re-start the Blues went downfield and BORTHWICK powered in a great header, to restore parity.

The game was warming up nicely and Borthwick went close, again, before Rec “scored” another, when Long headed back Blair’s cross for Wilcock to force the ball in,only for the referee to blow for a foul - seemed a bit harsh to many.

Rec were getting on top and Wilcock was unlucky from distance, following the impressive Josh Toop’s burst down the middle. But on 75m Rec notched the winner. Blair showed his class with a perfect cross from the left for WILCOCK, whose header was parried by Foden, but his was able to tuck in the loose ball and make it 2-1.

Rec defended well, but Coombs, for Portland, went close - his shot deflected for a corner. But the drama came three minutes into stoppage time, when Portland won a free-kick, just outside the area. Jenkins drove the ball in and in the resulting scramble Portland forced the ball in - only for the assistant to raise his flag. There was tension while the two officials debated at great length, before ruling it out for offside. Drama to the end!

FT 2-1.

16.8.25. Andover New Street 1 Hamworthy Rec 0

Rec slipped to their first League defeat in a poor game. The first half was a scrappy, even affair, littered with niggly fouls and virtually no chances. The second half saw little change, but New Street got on top for the last thirty minutes and started to make some chances, eventually taking one a minute from the end from substitute, Kovosha. It was a disappointing day for Rec, who failed to create a decent chance all game - most unlike them.

The first half is best forgotten - plenty of free-kicks and very little good football, with neither side looking like scoring. Half time couldn’t come quick enough.

The second half started with Lock, for the hosts, weaving his way into the box, but Rec clearing the danger. Then Connor Cocklin, for Rec, hooking a shot over the top, following a long throw.

But then New Street seized the initiative. Hive rounded off a neat move with a header, cleared for a corner. Then Lock played in Dotse to turn and fire just wide, before Dotse was denied by a good save from Rec keeper, Shane Murphy.

For New Street, Herbort was proving a handful for the Rec defence and he went close with a header at the far post, just over the bar.

But just as Rec were happy to settle for a point the hosts struck, on 89m. Herbort, again, was the provider - his low cross drilled in at the far post by KOVOSHA, to break Rec hearts and earn New Street a deserved win.

FT 1-0.

13.8.25. League Cup. New Milton Town 0 Hamworthy Recreation 7

Rec stormed through to the next round of the League Cup with this seven goal demolition of New Milton. Rec scored early and never looked back, adding a second soon after. The hosts had a good spell late in the first half and Rec were grateful to keeper, Shane Murphy for a great save, before two goals from new signing, Tom Blair, right on half time put Rec in a commanding position, adding three more after the break.

After just 3m Rec were in front and it was skipper, Tom Cooper who got his head to a great inswinging corner from Josh Toop. New Milton rallied and Thornton fired over the bar and McGrath had a low shot deflected for a corner. But it was Rec looking the better side and Regan Mason was unlucky with a 25 yarder tipped over by home stopper, Dixon.

Moore’s free-kick was saved by Murphy, before Rec doubled their lead, on 22m. Ash Pope’s corner was miss-cued into his own net by Foden. Rec were well on top and Eddie Hodge just failed to get on the end of a Pope cross.

New Milton then had their best spell and Thornton had his angled shot saved by Murphy and McCarthy-Gardiner’s goalbound shot was brilliantly tipped away by the Rec keeper, the ball running to Moore, whose shot clipped the bar.

But it was Rec who produced killer blows, right on 45m. Max Wilcock burst down the right and played in BLAIR to tap in his first goal for the club, from close-range and straight from the re-start the same player hit a right-foot beauty beyond Dixon for the fourth. HT 0-4.

New Milton had an early second half chance from Thornton saved by Murphy, before Wilcock (twice), Pope and Chris Long all had chances for Rec. But on 69m WILCOCK got his reward, cleverly flicking in a Toop corner and on 82m Wilcock’s run and delivery set up LONG to thump in off the bar, for number six. The scoring was complete on 89m, when MASON darted down the left and fired in a low shot, to make it seven.

FT 0-7.

9.8.25. Brockenhurst 0 Hamworthy Recreation 2

A good all-round team performance earned Rec their second win of the season at Brockenhurst. Rec were on the front foot from the start and bossed possession, but failed to create many clear-cut chances. But goals late in the first half and early in the second proved decisive. The Badgers had plenty of energy and defended well, but lacked bite up front and seldom caused problems for the Rec defence, superbly led by Harvey Doe and Sean Wright and keeper, Shane Murphy had a quiet afternoon.

The first chance of note saw new signing, Tom Blair’s header easily saved by home stopper, Valero. Then Max Wilcock’s cut back flashed across the face of goal, eluding a green shirt. Regan Mason’s clever chip into the area found Chris Long, but he failed to get in a shot and Wilcock was denied by a great tackle by Blackburn.

But on 40m Rec took a deserved lead. A neat move saw AARON ROBERTS and Wilcock exchange passes, with the Rec midfielder hitting a low shot beyond Valero and into the far corner. HT 0-1.

Within seven minutes of the re-start the lead was doubled. Blair broke on the right and his cross was poked in at the far post by WILCOCK.

The Badgers rallied and Woodward’s shot from distance was easily saved by Murphy and Brooks’ free-kick met with the same fate.

But it was Rec looking more likely to add to the score, with Doe hooking a chance over the bar and Blair firing just wide. Sub, Josh Toop was denied a goal by Valero, before the same player teed up Ben Satterley, only for his rasping drive to be tipped over by the busy home keeper.

FT 0-2.

2.8.25. FA Cup. Hamworthy Rec 1 Hartley Wintney 2

No FA cup run for Rec this year after this defeat to Isthmian League Hartley Wintney. Rec will be kicking themselves for not taking advantage of their first half superiority. After going in front on 19m they missed chances to double the lead, before falling for the sucker punch and conceding an equaliser in first half stoppage time.

A half time rollicking for the visitors saw them dominate the second half, as Rec struggled to contain them. But some dogged home defending looked likely to earn a replay, before a goal near the end saw Hartley through.

A good early cross from Ash Pope caused concerns for the visitors, before being cleared. Then Aaron Roberts played in Chris Long, only for him to scuff his shot. But on 19m Roberts sent LONG away again and this time his low, left-foot shot beat Jupp, in the Hartley goal, to put Rec one up.

Roberts was impressing in midfield, for Rec and his pass found Pope, who in turn, played in Max Wilcock for a great chance, but Jupp saved well. Another goal then would have put Rec firmly in the driving seat, but instead it was the visitors who rallied and both Ford and Horgan put chances over the Rec bar.

But in stoppage time CAMARA picked up a loose ball and weaved his way into the box, shrugging off challenges and planted his shot beyond home stopper, Felix Bruce.

HT 1-1.

Hartley started the second half in lively fashion. Rec were grateful to Harvey Doe for a great headed clearance and Haile had a shot blocked, before Body missed the best chance - firing over from close-range.

Rec were struggling to create anything, but a good cross from Long was headed back by Wilcock for Eddie Hodge to volley a shot, saved by Jupp, before the visiting keeper did well to keep out Wilcock’s attempt.

But the visitors pressure finally paid off on 84m, when a dangerous from the right was neatly put away at the far post by BODY, to send the Hampshire team through to the next round.

FT 1-2.

29.7.25. Hamworthy Rec 2 Millbrook 0

A good start to the new season for Rec with this win, but it was a really tough test for them. Make no mistake, Millbrook look a very competitive side and on this showing will be pushing for a play-off place. They dominated possession for long periods and will be gutted to have got nothing from the game. Having said that, Rec defended gallantly, with keeper, Felix Bruce and the back four all heroes.

The hosts took advantage of a bright start and were two up within 20 minutes courtesy of a Max Wilcock double. After that Millbrook got into the game and bossed the second half, denying Rec time and space on the ball. But Rec read the game well and were happy to defend their lead- at times it wasn’t pretty, but effective.

Millbrook’s first venture forward of note saw Hills’ attempt from inside the area blocked - the first of many.

Rec stunned the visitors again on 19m, when Long was again the provider, with a perfect cross for WILCOCK to power a header past Szymaniak and it was nearly three when Long’s shot from a tight angle flashed across the face of goal.

The visitors then had a spell of pressure and Hilton-Jones was unlucky with a great free-kick that thumped against the bar, before Parker had his free-kick well saved by Bruce. HT 2-0.

Millbrook were forced into a change at the start of the second half when keeper, Szymaniak fell victim to his earlier knock and was forced off, replaced by goalkeeper coach, Mike Weatherall. Bruce, in the home goal fell victim to the new “8 second” rule, gifting the visitors a corner, from which Rec scrambled a goalbound effort off the line and it was pressure all the way from Millbrook, but with the Rec defence up to the task. In fact, they nearly increased their lead when Wilcock, in search of a treble, fired just wide and Ben Satterley’s free-kick was well tipped over by Weatherall.

But it was the visitors who kept pressing, with Hills shooting over the bar and Parker’s free-kick saved by Bruce, before Regan Mason did well to head another goalbound effort off the line, as Rec held out for a hard - earned three points.

FT 2-0.