FA Vase Round 4

Hythe Town 1 Winchester City 3

City progressed into the last sixteen of the F A Challenge Vase with a highly professional performance on Saturday. With Ian Mancey and Pete Smith suspended, Mark Jones, Stewart Lang and Ian Buckman both injured, City’s squad was stretched. 23-year-old Winchester born Ross Lewis found himself after only a previous one full appearance for the first team in a League Cup match and two substitute appearances, in the centre of the defence for the clubs biggest game of the season. In front of a 441 crowd at Kentish League side Hythe Town who had already disposed of Wessex League opposition in the form of VT FC, Thatcham Town and Moneyfields there was also a rare start for Ben Kneller leading the attack with Jamie Musselwhite. There was also a return to the team for Mat Jones after recovering from a hernia operation for his first game since mid November.

The game was played in fine spirit from end to end with the large contingent of City supporters drumming away and singing their side to a success. City went ahead on sixteen minutes. Shaun Dyke and Musselwhite exchanged passes on the edge of the area with Dyke entering the box before firing a low shot across the face of goalkeeper Kevin Readings and off the inside of the post into the net. City had played the opening quarter of the game in fine style but once they had scored the home side upped their performance and put City under a certain amount of pressure.

The City back line looked solid with Lewis not overawed by his rise to the centre back role alongside the solid Matt Davies with Mat Jones and Matthew Bicknell covering the flanks. Dyke was causing his full back Dean Widnall problems with Lloyd Webber and Liam Green controlling the game from the middle of the park and Christer warren with his eager running on the left. Webber and Dyke combined on the half hour with Dykes low cross almost being turned into his own goal by Hythe centre back Darren Walmsley but Readings was alert to save his team mate the embarrassment.

Hythe had a really goods five minutes just after that in which City were fortunate to keep their lead. On thirty-three minutes a cross from Jason Brazier was controlled by their leading goalscorer Richard Sinden but the striker slid his shot wide of the target. Two minutes later Roy Guiver broke through from his central defensive role and buried his shot into the side netting with the home supporters acclaiming a goal. Two minutes later and the Hythe strike pair of Sinden and Roy Godden created an opening and again Sinden slid the ball past Hook but again wide of the target.

For City their problems continued. Warren using his battling qualities to get City’s composure back went for a challenge on forty minutes with Walmsley. Although Warren won the 50/50 challenge he remained on the floor in obvious pain. The unfortunate Warren had to be stretchered off and was taken to hospital where it was later revealed following an x ray that there was no damage to any bones but nine stitches had to be inserted into a gash in his leg and severe bruising. Danny Wakefield was brought into the action as his replacement.

In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Green played in Musselwhite who was unmarked at the far post but the City striker shot wide.

Hythe started the second period the better side. Having forced an early couple of corners, Ian Hayes drilled a low shot from outside the area that beat everybody but cannoned away off the post. City had Wakefield’s long-range effort saved by Readings then on sixty-seven minutes City could breathe slightly easier. Bicknell’s cross from the left appeared to be going into the outstretched hands of Readings when Dan Porter rose and headed the ball from under his keeper. The surprised Musselwhite waited for the ball to fall for him before calmly heading downwards to increase City’s lead.

The home sides immediate response was a left wing break by Lee Winfield but his end product was a shot into the arms of Hook. It was now City’s game for the taking. A long ball out of the City defence by Bicknell saw Kneller use his strength to hold off two defender before firing in a shot that was saved by Readings then Webber launched a long range effort that went just over the bar.

If there were any doubts with twelve minutes reaming City made the tie safe. Wakefield cross from the left flank saw Musselwhite some eleven yards from goal position his body before executing the perfect volley to celebrate his thirty first goal of the season.

Kneller created another chance for Wakefield soon after but Readings was equal to his effort but City had done their jobs for the afternoon. In the second minute of stoppage time slight lack of concentration in the City defence allowed the home side to claim a consolation goal with Sinden netting following a short corner but it was far too little too late. City ended with a rousing celebration with their large travelling support on the final whistle.

Hythe Town : Readings, Fisk, Windall (Todd 70), Walmsley, Guiver, D Porter (King 79), Brazier (Brown 81), Hayes, Godden, Sinden, Winfield Unused subs S Porter, Day

Winchester : Hook, Mat Jones, Bicknell, R Lewis, Davies, Warren (Wakefield 40), Dyke, Webber, Kneller (Lilley 83), Musselwhite, Green Unused subs Mulhern, Nelson and Chapman