Liphook United 2 v 1 Liss Athletic

Saturday 1st May 2021, Kick-off 15.00
Hampshire Premier League Supplementary Cup
Recreation Ground, Liphook
Admission and Programme: None
Attendance: 80 (approximate)

Still wanting to ideally avoid Greater London on public transport in these tricky Covid times, I decided to head back over the border into Hampshire today, to watch the reverse fixture of the game I saw between these clubs a month ago in this Hampshire Premier League Supplementary Cup..

The Liphook Recreation Ground is about a 15 minute walk from Liphook train station, although on arrival I went on a five mile circular walk to the west of the village, passing alongside a golf course, some lakes and through woodland en route. The main football pitch on the recreation ground is located closest to the main entrance, with quite a large car park stretching from behind the corner flag by the entrance to about the half way line, and along this entire length there is hard standing, a few wooden benches, and metal pitchside railing, as there is virtually all the way around the pitch. A path from the entrance leads up and along the top of a grass bank behind one end, and with several wooden benches placed in this raised area along the path, it makes for an excellent place to view the action. The path eventually leads to the clubhouse, which is quite cosy inside and with decent views looking out over the recreation ground and from where refreshments including alcohol could be purchased. A second full size football pitch is located below the clubhouse and immediately adjacent to the main pitch, whilst behind the remaining end there is a large hedgerow and in the corner, a couple of old large white and black building which, with all windows boarded up, appears to be used for storage space. There are no floodlights nor spectator accommodation here, but the venue is more than adequate to host Step 7 football, and it is a really pleasant place to watch football, in a peaceful, spacious rec that is very easy on the eye, having some charm and character, with a seemingly well maintained and flat playing surface (although the pitch is notoriously prone to waterlogging in the winter months), and a decent attendance was present today with a blend of locals and groundhoppers.

Already assured of qualification for the last 16 of this competition, a win or a score draw today would ensure that Liphook United win their three club group. After winning 2-3 at today's visitors Liss Athletic in their opening fixture, Liphook lost 0-1 at home to Division One outfit Headley United, before beating the same opposition 0-1 away. It has been a disappointing cup campaign for Liss who, after losing that opening game against Liphook, drew 1-1 at home before losing 1-2 at home against Headley United. In the regular season, both Liphook and Liss had similar seasons, down in eleventh and twelfth respectively, Liphook winning four and losing five of their nine league games, whilst Liss won four and lost eight of their 12 league games.

On a mostly overcast and slightly chilly afternoon, this was a very entertaining game to watch, full of attacking intent and played in a good spirit. Liss opened the scoring on 34 minutes, their right back gaining possession with a good tackle before threaded the ball forward for Eliott Harrison to run onto, before calmly slotted underneath the keeper. Their lead was to only last six minutes though, after a cross from the right was blocked in the area, and Patrick Olliffe  struck the ball home across the keeper.

There were more clear chances after the break, mostly towards the end as both sides pushed for a winner. Liphook saw a swirling cross from the left wing drop onto the top of the crossbar on 77 minutes, and two minutes later it was Liss' turn to be denied by the woodwork, following a free kick from the left and a far post header saw the ball kiss the outside of the post. Liss came close again on 80 minutes, when a close range header was blocked, but it was Liphook who scored the next goal to move into the lead two minutes later, when their player did well to retain possession moving to the byline before passing the ball back to the edge of the six yard box and Steven Harding, in plenty of space, fired the ball home. They came close to making absolutely sure of the win two minutes from time when a close range header forced a very good reflex save. And so it was Liphook who completed the double over their local rivals in this mini competition to win the group and proceed to the last 16, where they will meet Division One outfit South Wonston Swifts at home next Saturday, whilst today's fixture brought Liss' competitive season to an end.