Hampshire Senior Cup

Winchester City 5 Andover 2

Winchester City progressed into the Quarter Finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup and a home tie with Conference South neighbours Eastleigh, following this incident packed match with fellow Wessex Leaguers Andover.

City twice had to come from behind before overcoming a strong fast attacking Andover outfit. City started brightly Matthew Bicknell’s crossfield pass to Shaun Dyke, saw Dykes controlled cross from the right flank headed over by Mark Jones on six minutes. Three minutes later and Jamie Musselwhite plundered the ball the wrong side of the upright after being set up by Christer warren.

City lost their cohesion slightly after that though and Andover gained the upper hand. Danny Sullivan gave the City defence warnings of what was to follow when he the ball in the back of the net after ten minutes but an offside decision gave City the reprieve. Mat Davies headed a Dyke free kick over the bar but City went behind after fifteen minutes. Callum Earl’s ball into the near post was turned home by Sullivan despite the attentions of City’s Davies and Andover were celebrating in front of their travelling fans.

Ashley Vine saw a free kick saved by David Hook and David Asker sent a dipping shot from fully thirty-five yards just over the bar. Tommy McCormick turned neatly inside the Andover area but scuffed his shot straight at Andover goalkeeper David Tasker before City netted an equaliser on thirty-nine minutes.

Liam Green and Dyke worked a short free kick which was played into the area for Musselwhite to flick on in to the path of partner Ian Mancey to fire low past Tasker for the equaliser.

With the game approaching the end of a busy first half there were still two more goals to come. A long ball from the Andover back line from Ashley Vine fell invitingly for Sullivan to fire high over Hook and into the top stanchion to put the visitors back in front on forty three minutes. Two minutes later and City were again level. Mancey pulled down by Bobby Swayne in the area and Liam Green despatched the penalty equaliser.

Manager Steve Tate obviously said some choice words during the interval; as it was an excellent second half City display, which ensured there would only have been one winner. Seven minutes into the second period and City were in front for the first time in the tie. Musselwhite and Dyke combined to allow Warren to side foot City ahead.

Three minutes later, Dyke’s free kick saw Mark Jones arrive to place a header past Tasker for the skippers fourth goal from five games. Andover’s problems were to increase as immediately following the goal midfielder David Asker was shown a second yellow card for some remark made within the officials hearing that saw him make the long walk back to the changing rooms.

Musselwhite was through on a one on one with Andover keeper Tasker but the keeper was equal to the City’s strikers attempt whilst a long-range effort from Green was also saved by Tasker.

With seventy seven minutes played City made sure of the tie with the fifth goal. Swayne the unlucky culprit again having taken the ball down by his hand and being spotted by the Assistant Referee and City’s were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon, Green sending Tasker the wrong way from the spot.

City substitute Vince Rusher, their third ex Andover player) was unlucky not to open his City account when his shot was saved by Tasker and the final action of the afternoon was in the first minute of stoppage time. Andover reduced to nine men after skipper Glen Damen saw his second yellow card of the afternoon following a challenge on Ben Kneller.

Winchester : Hook, Buckman, Bicknell, Mark Jones, Davies, Warren, Dyke, McCormick, Mancey (Kneller 72), Musselwhite (Rusher 78), L Green (Wakefield 78) Unused subs Lang and Zawadski

Andover : Tasker, Hall, Earl (Keogh 90), Damen, Vine, Swayne, Kingman, Sullivan (Turpin 80), Styles, Chahal (Murphy 72), Asker Unused subs Andrews and Clayton