Winchester City 4 Bideford 0
(Winchester City win 7-3 on aggregate)
Winchester City reached their biggest achievement in their 120 year history with this convincing victory over Bideford to reach the Final of the F A Challenge Vase and a trip to Birmingham City’s St Andrews ground to face Eastern League side A F C Sudbury.
With the scores all level following the six-goal thriller at Bideford a week earlier and City with strong wind at their backs in the opening half City created several openings from the outset. Andrew Forbes just failed to connect with a Lloyd Webber cross after eleven minutes and three minutes later Shaun Dyke fired narrowly wide of the target.
As City kept up the momentum Danny Smith had a shot well saved by Bideford goalkeeper Ryan Draper after being set up by Webber. Smith shot just wide moments later also. On the half-hour from a Smith corner Forbes had a header cleared off the line by Shane Powell. Within a minute Matthew Bicknells left foot drive was pushed up into the air by Draper but with the ball dropping under the bar and over the line Bideford central defender Matthew Hare cleared the ball to safety.
With the first half drawing to a close and looking as though City would not open the scoring with the wind behind their backs, City added two quick goals. The first on forty three minutes. Danny Smiths cross was headed downwards by Forbes and Ian Mancey struck the ball home from ten yards.
In the second minute of first half stoppage time Bicknells left foot cross found Forbes at the far post to net his first goal of the afternoon and end City in at the interval two goals to the good.
With only four minutes played of the second half City ended the match as a contest as they added their third goal. Forbes laid the ball into Gary Green who squared the ball for Mancey to shoot low into the net for his fourth goal from the two matches and virtually assure City of their final place.
With sixty three minutes played City at full attacking force, Bideford had already cleared their lines once in the attack when Manceys header saw defender Simon Langmead handle on the line. Langmead was sent off and Forbes struck home his 70th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Matters got worse for Bideford when substitute Leon Hapgood was sent off for a two-footed lunge at Toby Redwood as a jubilant City roared towards their date at St Andrews.
City : Arthur, Dyke, Bicknell (L Green 84), Redwood (Hall 79), Goss, Blake, Webber, G Green, Mancey, Forbes (Rogers 72), Smith Unused subs Tate and Rastall
(Winchester City win 7-3 on aggregate)
Winchester City reached their biggest achievement in their 120 year history with this convincing victory over Bideford to reach the Final of the F A Challenge Vase and a trip to Birmingham City’s St Andrews ground to face Eastern League side A F C Sudbury.
With the scores all level following the six-goal thriller at Bideford a week earlier and City with strong wind at their backs in the opening half City created several openings from the outset. Andrew Forbes just failed to connect with a Lloyd Webber cross after eleven minutes and three minutes later Shaun Dyke fired narrowly wide of the target.
As City kept up the momentum Danny Smith had a shot well saved by Bideford goalkeeper Ryan Draper after being set up by Webber. Smith shot just wide moments later also. On the half-hour from a Smith corner Forbes had a header cleared off the line by Shane Powell. Within a minute Matthew Bicknells left foot drive was pushed up into the air by Draper but with the ball dropping under the bar and over the line Bideford central defender Matthew Hare cleared the ball to safety.
With the first half drawing to a close and looking as though City would not open the scoring with the wind behind their backs, City added two quick goals. The first on forty three minutes. Danny Smiths cross was headed downwards by Forbes and Ian Mancey struck the ball home from ten yards.
In the second minute of first half stoppage time Bicknells left foot cross found Forbes at the far post to net his first goal of the afternoon and end City in at the interval two goals to the good.
With only four minutes played of the second half City ended the match as a contest as they added their third goal. Forbes laid the ball into Gary Green who squared the ball for Mancey to shoot low into the net for his fourth goal from the two matches and virtually assure City of their final place.
With sixty three minutes played City at full attacking force, Bideford had already cleared their lines once in the attack when Manceys header saw defender Simon Langmead handle on the line. Langmead was sent off and Forbes struck home his 70th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Matters got worse for Bideford when substitute Leon Hapgood was sent off for a two-footed lunge at Toby Redwood as a jubilant City roared towards their date at St Andrews.
City : Arthur, Dyke, Bicknell (L Green 84), Redwood (Hall 79), Goss, Blake, Webber, G Green, Mancey, Forbes (Rogers 72), Smith Unused subs Tate and Rastall
Document last updated: 07/06/2007
