Sydenhams Wessex League

Winchester City 0 Maidstone United 3

Winchester City fell at their first hurdle in the F A Cup, with their first home tie in over thirty years and also suffered their heaviest home defeat in a competitive match since December 2000.

City started so brightly, enjoying the home advantage despite the vociferous visiting support in a crowd of 452, they passed the ball around and made some slick passing moves around their Kent League opponents. They created plenty of openings but failed to take their chances.

Gary Green and Jamie Musselwhite had both gone close whilst Liam Green saw a shot strike the upright before Maidstone went ahead with their first serious attempt on goal on twenty-nine minutes. Nick Hegley broke down the right wing for Maidstone sending in a superb cross for Lyndon Rowlands head home.

Ten minutes later and City were picking the ball out of the back of the net again. Rowland looking dangerous again in the City area was tugged back by Gary Green to concede a penalty and Mo Takalobighashi shot home the spot kick via the inside of the post leaving it all for City to do. Another penalty appeal for Maidstone was waved away as the half time interval approached.

So the visitors left the field at half time following a brave performance defending well and hitting City on the break. The second period saw Maidstone attack City early on but again with out testing City goalkeeper David Hook. City put Maidstone under a lot of pressure in their attempts to get back into the game. Ian Mancey went close on a couple of occasions. On the hour following a City attack another Liam Green shot struck the post, which was summing up the events for City’s afternoon.

Mark Jones broke from the half way line and struck a low shot that was saved by Maidstone goalkeeper Pat Mullins but City were watching the tie ebb away from them. The final nail was six minutes from time when Hegley and Garry Kimble combined earning a free kick on the edge of the area. The free kick found the head of Rowlands and City were three goals down. Despite an additional seven minutes stoppage time, City were out of the F A Cup.

Winchester : Hook, Dolan (Lilley 61), McCormick, Jones, Redwood, G Green, Sumner, Lang, Mancey, Musselwhite, L Green (Austen 80) Unused subs Brown, Lewis, Walker-Harris

Maidstone : Mullin, Paul, Kimble (Miller), Hume (Nicholl), Celaire, Royston, Strouts, Tydeman, Rowland, Takalobighashi (Austin), Hegley Unused subs Hemens, Mannerings