Alresford Town record crowd and New Milton's Step 6 pull define Wessex week

The number that stood out in the Wessex League this week was 603. That was the attendance at Arlebury Park on Tuesday night, when Alresford Town hosted Aldershot Town in the Hampshire FA Servio Cup and lost despite scoring twice against the National League side. The club said it smashed the previous record of 339, set in a Wessex League Division One fixture against Colden Common last season. "We came second in that game too," the club added.

Crowds were also the subject at the top of the table. New Milton Town reported 231 through the gate for the 1-0 win over Sandhurst Town, which the club said was the fifth highest attendance across Step 6 and the highest in Wessex Division One. Luca Lane scored the only goal in the 11th minute, nodding the ball over the advancing keeper after Jack Broad's pass. The club's match report described a scruffy game in a gusting wind, with the visitors' keeper Joe Hybert denying Louis Whetton, Callum McHale and Callum Clarke. It was the first away defeat of the season for Sandhurst. New Milton had also received the 360Player Division One Club of the Month award for August, and their trip to Newport on 29 September has since been postponed.

Alresford Town sent condolences to Newport following the loss of an inspirational member of the Newport football family.

On the pitch, Hamworthy United won their first league game of the season, 5-2 at Totton & Eling, in a match that included a red card. Folland Sports came from 2-0 down to beat Blandford United 5-2, with Fred Penfold scoring twice. Romsey Town won 5-0 at Lymington Town, with goals credited to Woodward, Tulk and Martin among others, and Ringwood Town then beat Lymington on Tuesday through Ollie Brown's two goals and one from Ben Harris. Cove beat Kintbury Rangers 6-0, Cavan Atkinson scoring twice, before losing 2-1 to Amesbury Town.

In the cups, AFC Aldermaston won 2-1 at Sherborne Town in the Wessex League Cup, Jehmiel scoring both goals. Fawley went through on penalties, winning the shootout 4-3 after a 2-2 draw. Folland Sports lost 5-2 to AFC Totton in the Southampton Senior Cup, with Sam Emeney and Joao Ferreira on the scoresheet. Hamworthy United have arranged a £15 coach for their FA Vase trip to Highworth on 10 October.