Hampshire Senior Cup

Lymington & New Milton 0 Winchester City 2

It was an expected tentative start to this Hampshire Senior Cup tie. Defending the trophy they had won back in April, City started their campaign away at last seasons Wessex League champions under the guidance of the caretaker management team of Steve Tate, Terry Chapman and Kevin Dixon. In reality City were never in danger of losing this match. A competent performance was given against a strangely subdued Ryman League Division One side.

The first goalscoring opportunity did not arrive until the sixteenth minute, Lee Chudy firing wide for the home side. Three minutes later Jamie Musselwhite saw a header from a Liam Green free kick saved by home goalkeeper Mike Hookway. The game started to become a bit more open a cross from the right by Sam Carter saw Richard Gregory scoop the ball wide of the target, a missed chance that Lymington were about to rue.

Midway through the half Mark Lilley who had been a constant cause of menace in the Lymington rearguard tucked the ball under the advancing g Hookway to pout City ahead following a pass from Musselwhite.

Lymington's response was a long range shot from Pete Smith but again off target. With City in the ascendancy Lilley's diving header from a Musselwhite cross on the half hour went just past the post and another Lilley header from a Tommy McCormick delivery brought a fine save by Hookway. On the stroke of half time, Shaun Dykes cross to the far post allowed Lilley to help the ball on to McCormick who was thwarted by another fine Hookway stop.

A spell of early Lymington pressure at the start of the second period saw Liam Green clear the ball away from the City goal following an Adam Lang header but it was City still dictating the play and McCormick thundered a shot from forty yards that hap to be tipped over the bar by Hookway.

City were creating all the chances, Dykes free kick to the far post from the right flank was headed back by Mark Jones across goal and Lilley failed to convert in front of a gaping goal, whilst Lymington were restricted to a long range effort from former substitute and City midfielder Mark Clothier.

With sixty-five minutes played and City pressure staring to tell on the Lymington back line, Dyke broke free but was brought down by Pete Smith. McCormick’s free kick was saved by Hookway. Four minutes later Dyke again collected the ball out wide right, this time he cut inside to the edge of the area before sending a low shot under the body of Hookway and City were two goals ahead.

Lymington did have the ball in the back of the bet with three minute to go with a Darren Powell header but the effort was disallowed for an infringement. The final chance fell to City and Musselwhite but his header from a Dyke corner went wide.