Hampshire completed the double over Gloucestershire in a match they never looked like losing after taking a sixth minute lead through Lucy Quinn with a well struck 35 yard shot beating keeper Abby Morrissey and finding the top corner of the net.
Although Hampshire still have to meet Somerset away in March, their superior goal difference virtually assures the girls will be in the Final again this season.
Although the home side did have a chance to level in the 20th minute when Annie Martin shot just wide, it was Hampshire in control as the Gloucestershire defence were unable to deal with the twin threat of Chloe Ranger and the lively Tamsin Pibworth who went on a fine run in the 27th minute, cut in and her goal bound shot was headed away for a corner kick.
Ruby Bagge with space on the left did have a crack at goal from 25 yards out for Gloucestershire, but in the 31st minute they went two goals down. Pibworth, the scorer after chasing a long ball over the top, won the challenge with the keeper on the edge of the box and the rebound fell kindly for her to run through and place it the ball into the empty net.
Soon after this Pibworth had two chances when very good through balls from Abby Picton gave her opportunities. Both were blocked for corner kicks and in this good spell before the break Hampshire went three goals ahead in the 42nd minute. It was the impressive Pibworh who received a ball wide on the right, made ground and placed a perfect cross low into the six yard box to present Abby Picton with the easy task of slotting into the unguarded net with the keeper pulled out of position.
There was no let up from Hampshire after the break and in the 57th minute came the fourth goal. Gemma Simmonds, who was very influential in midfield, sent a great through ball down the middle for Abby Picton to score her second and it really was game over.
In the 62nd minute Lavinia Nkomo, making her first appearance in the Hampshire goal, was in action making a good low save from a Megan Bloomer shot in the 62nd minute. Four minutes later however, Megan had the misfortune of colliding with Nkomo following a long free kick from Sophie Sweet and after a long delay was taken off on a stretcher.
Gloucestershire never gave up their uphill task and Nkomo had to make a couple of useful takes and a hopeful shot by Sweet hit the foot of the post but it was Hampshire looking the more dangerous side and in the closing stages Ranger came into her own, forcing two fine saves before scoring in the 9th minute of added time with a bullet shot the keeper could not hold.
Polly Wardle and Rachael Snow were presented with their County Caps following their tenth appearance and goalkeeper Lavinia Nkomo with a Hampshire t-shirt to mark her first appearance by Peter Raynbird, Deputy Chairman of the Representative Committee.
Team:
Lavinia Nkomo (Hampshire FA Centre of Excellence)
Rachel Snow (Southampton Saints)
Molly Booth (Portsmouth Ladies)
Gemma Simmonds (Southampton Saints)
Lysette Russell (Portsmouth Ladies)
Nichola Ferris (Portsmouth Ladies).
Polly Wardle (Christchurch).
Abby Picton (Hampshire FA Centre of Excellence)
Chloe Ranger (Havant & Waterlooville)
Tamsin Pibworth (Hampshire FA Centre of Excellence)
Lucy Quinn (Hampshire FA Centre of Excellence)
Substitutes:
Chloe Parks (Portsmouth Ladies) on 72nd minute for Abby Picton)
Laura Heron (Hampshire FA Centre of Excellence on 77th minute for Nichola Ferris.)
Liberty Pritchard (Hampshire FA Centre of Excellence on 86th minute for Pibworth)
Not used: Sub keeper Hannah Houghton (Southampton Saints) and Lauren Jones (Portsmouth)
Report by Peter Raynbird