WHITCHURCH United's excellent season continued as they reached the quarter-finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup last night - but Tadley Calleva suffered yet another defeat.

Goals from Isaac Sedu and Curtis Angell saw Whitchurch claim a 2-0 victory away at fellow Wessex League Premier Division side Folland Sports. 

Two goals in the opening 15  minutes of the second half saw them through a game in which the hosts started and finished the stronger but lacked the cutting edge to reward their possession.

Boss Jim Macey was once again delighted with his side’s performance and place in the quarter-finals which he said was “fully deserved – we tore them apart at times and everyone did their job in what is squad which believes it can beat anyone.”

Macey brought in Curtis Angell and David Asker from the side that drew at Portchester three days earlier and they survived an early scare as Tom Hindmarsh blocked a close range effort from Ryan Long and saw the follow up bounce to safety off the post.

Jamie Barron saw a fierce shot blocked by one of his team mates before Whitchirch moved forward with both Pa Touray and Shane Lock too high from distance.

Home goalkeeper Ryan Gosney dealt untidily with a Touray cross before leaving his area to deny Lock. He then held on to an Angell free-kick and was at full stretch to turn away another effort from the same player before Follands posed the last threat of the half, Alex Easton shooting wide after Whitchurch had lost possession on the edge of their area.

Five minutes into the second half the visitors took the lead when Angell, who had already seen a shot saved, played the ball into the area. Nic Turpin’s neat flick found Isaac Sedu in space and the winger coolly slotted the ball past Gosney. 

Angell, a constant attacking threat on the left was high with a free-kick before the hard running Long got on to a through-ball but Hindmarsh was quckly down to block the shot.

The visitors added their second goal on the hour when Angell, again allowed far too much space, moved forward to curl the ball inside Gosney’s left hand post.

A Turpin shot was held at the second attempt by the 'keeper before the home side gained more of the possession as the game drew to its close.

Tom Lockyer replaced Asker and as Folland threw their big men forward Adam Pearson and Brown at the heart of the defence dealt with crosses and shots alike, though in one goalmouth scramble Follands did everything apart from putting the ball in the net.

Alex Pickering collected two yellow cards in as many minutes but the 10 men survived the late onslaught to take their already praiseworthy season a further step forward.

“Scott Hassell and young Locky are playing out of their skin and Pearson at the back was immense again tonight, said Macey. “I told the boys whatever happens now to just go out and enjoy their season and see what it brings.”

The victory means they are through to the quarter-finals of the county's premier cup competition, while they continue to impress in the league.

They sit eighth in the table ahead of trips to Verwood Town (Saturday) and Lymington Town (Tuesday) in the coming week.

It was a different story for Division One outfit Tadley, who have won just one of their last 10 games following yesterday's 1-0 defeat at struggling Fleet Spurs.

Visiting Tadley should have won the game but they failed to take their chances. Brett Denham went especially close, hitting both post and crossbar, but it was Fleet who scored the only goal of the game 15 minutes from time.

Tadley manager Danny Dolan said: "If we had taken our chances, we would have won the game - but they got a goal and we didn't."

Dolan's men face two very tough games in the coming days, hosting third-placed Petersfield Town on Saturday and top-of-the-table Andover Town next Tuesday.

"Petersfield are flying and will probably end up in the top two, while Andover are a very well organised side," the Tadley boss added.

"I'm looking to bring in a few players. We haven't been the same since we lost our captain, Scott Kinge, to a shoulder injury a few weeks ago.

"We have also been without Grant Powell and Danny Vickers for a while - but the players who have come in have not taken their opportunity."