TROJANS lost their discipline - and the chance to win the Hampshire Hockey Association Cup - as they crashed 3-2 to City of Portsmouth in front of a bumper Sports Centre cup final crowd.
Ahead through Paul Hilton midway through the first half, they conceded a soft equalising goal just before half-time. Then, at a crucial stage of the second period, they had two players sin-binned.
Cup holders Portsmouth took full advantage and, with Trojans down to eight outfield players, scored twice inside five minutes to take the cup for a third successive year.
"Indiscipline and our inability to score from our first-half penalty corners cost us dear," reflected Trojans coach Lindsay Hilton. "We lost our shape with the two yellow cards, but we came back and went down fighting in the end."
It could have been so different had Trojans capitalised early on, on a Sports Centre surface that bore more resemblance to Bournemouth beach than a hockey pitch. They opened strongly but failed with three penalty corners - two Wayne Shepherd drag flicks going wide after Hilton failed to hit the target.
Trojans' pressure eventually paid off, Craig Sommerville creating the opening for Hilton to fire in. But the goal seemed to fire up Portsmouth.
Steve Cole, a spectator for much of the first half, twice denied Steve Turnbull in City breaks - but, just before half-time, couldn't quite divert a mis-hit equalising shot from Ollie Pipe.
City upped the anti as Trojans seemed to tire. As they forced a stream of penalty corners, Trojans lost their cool - Pete Wiles following Craig Sommerville into the sin bin.
Portsmouth, fifth in South Premier League Division 1 this season, took advantage. Turnbull put them in front when he got a nick to a Pete Hayward shot and then Duncan Bright got a third.
Wiles returned to convert a Chris Wiseman short corner and cut the gap to 3-2 but City keeper Roger Basson twice made late vital blocks.
Hilton will look to improve the fitness levels of his Trojans team before the England Hockey Trophy final against Slough on May 21.
Mike Nightingale notched a hat-trick Trojans 3rd XI lifted the Hampshire Open Cup, beating Bournemouth III 5-4. Olly Vincent and Matt Wall got the other goals.
A Kent Langridge double and a Phil Barnes goal gave Winchester a 3-2 win over Andover in the Hampshire Second XI Cup final.
Andover were beaten 5-2 by Wimborne Wayfarers in the men's Trophy final while England's Andy Pett scored the winner as City of Portsmouth beat Southampton 1-0 in the Under-18 cup final.
RESULTS:
LADIES CUP
Southampton 3 (Nutt, Crowley 2) Trojans 6 (McNeill, Cornick 2, James 2, Oakley)
1st XI CUP
Trojans 2 (Hilton, Wiles) City of Portsmouth 3 (Pipe Turnbull, Bright)
1st XI TROPHY
Andover 2 (Brooks, Walker) Wimborne Wayfarers 5 (Preston 3, Eveleigh 2)
2nd XI CUP
Andover 2 (Peebles, Leonard) Winchester 3 (Langridge 2, Barnes)
OPEN LEAGUE CUP
Bournemouth III 4 Trojans III 5 (Nightingale 3, Wall, Vincent)
UNDER 14 CUP
City of Portsmouth 5 (Payne, Brethel 4) Fareham 0
UNDER 16 CUP
Winchester 2 (Barrett, Deller) Havant 11 (Batton 3, Kemp 2, Rennie 2, Faulkner 2, Logan, Johnson)
UNDER 18 CUP
City of Portsmouth 1 (Pett) Southampton 0
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