Eastleigh beat Totton to win Hampshire Senior Cup (From Daily Echo)

Eastleigh beat Totton to win Hampshire Senior Cup

10:00pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in AFC Totton By Simon Walter, Senior Sports Reporter

Eastleigh won the Hampshire FA Senior Cup after beating Totton 2-0 in tonight’s final at St Mary’s.

The Spitfires went in front in the 11th minute when Mitchell Nelson burst free down the right channel and played a low ball to the far post, where Chris Flood slid in to convert.

Eastleigh should have doubled the lead three minutes later, as Totton keeper Grant Porter palmed Daryl McMahon’s free kick straight to Gary Elphick, only for the defender to head over from just a few yards out with the goal at his mercy.

The closest the Stags came to a goal was when Nathaniel Sherborn broke clear just before the half hour mark, but with just keeper Gareth Barfoot to beat he sliced wide.

Totton’s Ryan Hill and Eastleigh’s Michael Green were both booked within a minute of the second-half beginning, after becoming embroiled in an unseemly scrap.

James Coutts had a glorious chance to equalise when Hill’s free-kick from wide left found him at the back post, but he shot straight at Barfoot from close range.

Barfoot then denied Davies at the back post, before the Stags player hit the second effort against the woodwork.

Eastleigh grabbed their second goal in the 62nd minute, as Flood’s cross to the back post was forced in by Nelson.

For a full report and match reaction, see tomorrow’s Daily Echo.