US Portsmouth knock higher division Tadley Calleva out of the Wessex League Cup

Josh Hazell, centre, was on target in US Portsmouth's 3-0 Wessex League Cup win against higher tier Tadley Calleva. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

The centre half – who played for Hawks in last season’s Hampshire Senior Cup tie at Gosport Borough - headed his side’s final goal in a 3-0 home victory over higher division Tadley Calleva at the Victory Stadium.

In a much-changed XI, Josh Hazell had opened the scoring before Brodie Spencer set up James Franklyn to double the advantage.

‘I don’t know their side from Adam,’ said US boss Glenn Turnbull. ‘They had played an FA Cup tie on Sunday so I’m guessing they made a few changes.

‘But we had a few out - Callum Glen, Tom Jeffes, Andrew Todd, Dec Seiden, Tom Cain.’

Harnett-Balkwill was deployed on the right hand side of a central defensive three with Jack Chandler coming in on the left side and Harry Birmingham taking the captain’s armband.

Hazell, Spencer and George Root all started while teenager George Hopwood and Luke Richards, a reserve regular, came on in the second half.

‘The boys did really well,’ said Turnbull. ‘We pretty much dominated the second half.’

It was the fourth game US had played against Wessex top flight opposition in recent weeks, and their fourth win without conceding.

They had previously defeated Baffins (5-0), Horndean (1-0) and Cowes Sports (2-0) in pre-season friendlies.

Glen, meanwhile, has received a one-game ban for his sending off against Totton & Eling at the weekend, and will miss the game against Downton on Saturday week.

US are without a fixture this Saturday.