Match Preview: Baffins v Lymington Town

Southern League Division One Lymington Town are the visitors as Baffins aim to reach Hampshire Senior Cup quarter-finals for the first time ever on Tuesday evening (7.45pm kick-off).

Baffins are back on home turf after the comfortable victory over Cowes Sports seven days ago.

Deadlocked at the break, but Rovers struck three times in the second-half through Steve Ramsey and a Tom Vincent brace to secure back-to-back victories.

Tonight’s third round tie will be the second time the two clubs have met this campaign, after Rovers recorded a 3-0 victory over the division-higher opponents in pre-season. Joe Johnson, Zac Brownlie and Kelvin Robinson all found the target in the July friendly.

Lymington currently sit 19th in the Southern League Division One table, just one point inside the relegation zone which would see them drop back down to the Wessex Premier Division.

Like Baffins, their fixture on Saturday was postponed due to a frozen pitch. Lymington’s last fixture saw last-minute drama as Paulton Rovers stole all three points with a 98th minute goal.

In their last cup fixture, Town suffered an 8-0 hammering on home turf against ex-Wessex League Bashley in the Russell Cotes Cup.

Lymington have looked into the Wessex League to secure the signatures of several players this term. 23-year-old Owen Fee signed for Town from Blackfield & Langley, whilst Karol Skoczen made the switch from Horndean, and Jamie Beasley swapped Bemerton for Lymington. More recently, the club have secured the signing of forward Mitchell Speechley-Price - cup tied for this match - who scored a consolation goal in Baffins’ 6-1 thrashing of Brockenhurst at Grigg Lane in October.

The last time the two clubs met in a cup fixture was in 2020/21 as Rovers made the trip to The Sports Ground in the Wessex League Cup. Brandon Miller, Callum Dart and a James Cowan brace secured Baffins progression to the next phase in a thrilling 4-3 victory.

The likes of AFC Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Eastleigh and Basingstoke Town remain in the competition, and could provide the quarter-final opposition for Rovers if progression was secured this evening.

Tickets can only be purchased on the turnstiles on Tuesday 13 December (7.45pm kick-off) and are priced £6 adults and £4 concessions. The £10 deal is available for this match, which includes; entry, programme and a beer from the Clubhouse selection.