Tuesday 13th December
Sydenhams Wessex League Cup
Winchester City 3 Downton 0
Division One pace setters Downton provided Winchester City with a stern task before progressing in to the Quarter Finals of the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup. Resting several players who are recognised as starters in the City first team, the game itself took some time to get going, but the visitors provided useful opposition.
City went ahead on seventeen minutes, Shaun Dykes right wing corners being powerfully headed home by Stewart Lang arriving late in to the area.
Downton had chances to equalise soon after. Mark Zawadski produced a good stop to deny Dan Western as Zawadski stood firm on a one on one situation on twenty-two minutes. A minute later Dan Gain produced a drive from outside the area that rashed against the Cityy bar.. As Downton enjoiyed this spell of pressure Zawadski had to be alert to save from Andy Waters and on the half hourMatt Alfore produced another bstrike that went through a crowd of players and was turned away by the unsighted Zawadski until the last moment.
After this brief flurry around the City goal, City stepped up mtheir performance slightly and created better openings for themselves before the break. Ben Kneller shot across the face of goal following an error in the Downton defence then five minutes before the interval Matthew Bicknell’s long-range effort was saved by Glenn Craven.
As the interval drew close another Lang header from a Dyke corner was saved by Craven then Vince Rusher headed a Bicknell cross into the arms of the keeper.
City were the stronger side in the second period but could not rest until late in the game. Rusher had seen another effort saved by Craven and Adam Rogers making a welcome return to first team action saw a long rang effort saved by Craven. It took City until the seventy sixth minute to add the second goal. Danny Wakefield won an excellent challenge in the middle of the park before playing the ball wide to Dyke. Dykes cross into the area was turned home by Kneller.
Three minutes later and the contest was over. Rogers’ pass into the path of Rusher allowed Rusher to pass the ball past Craven for his first senior goal for City since his transfer from Andover.
There was still time for Dyke to be thwarted by Craven and for Downton to have another opportunity, City debutant goalkeeper Dan Chapman having replaced the injured Zawadski made a fine stop from Luke Hatchman.
The bad news for City was the last minute dismissal of Dyke for words directed at one of the Assistant Referees. City now are at home to Wimborne in the Quarter Final, who defeated Gosport Borough 2-0, with the game scheduled for Tuesday 10th January.
Winchester : Zawadski (Chapman 59), King, Bicknell, R Lewis, Lang, N Lewis (Rogers 59), Rackham (55), Wakefield, Rusher, Kneller, Dyke Unused subs Davies and L Green
Downton : Craven, D Robertson, Bartlett (Thick 45), Gulliver (Wilkinson 65), Smith, Gain (Browning 77), Alford, Waters, Robertson, Hatchman, Western Unused sub Street
Winchester City 3 Downton 0
Division One pace setters Downton provided Winchester City with a stern task before progressing in to the Quarter Finals of the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup. Resting several players who are recognised as starters in the City first team, the game itself took some time to get going, but the visitors provided useful opposition.
City went ahead on seventeen minutes, Shaun Dykes right wing corners being powerfully headed home by Stewart Lang arriving late in to the area.
Downton had chances to equalise soon after. Mark Zawadski produced a good stop to deny Dan Western as Zawadski stood firm on a one on one situation on twenty-two minutes. A minute later Dan Gain produced a drive from outside the area that rashed against the Cityy bar.. As Downton enjoiyed this spell of pressure Zawadski had to be alert to save from Andy Waters and on the half hourMatt Alfore produced another bstrike that went through a crowd of players and was turned away by the unsighted Zawadski until the last moment.
After this brief flurry around the City goal, City stepped up mtheir performance slightly and created better openings for themselves before the break. Ben Kneller shot across the face of goal following an error in the Downton defence then five minutes before the interval Matthew Bicknell’s long-range effort was saved by Glenn Craven.
As the interval drew close another Lang header from a Dyke corner was saved by Craven then Vince Rusher headed a Bicknell cross into the arms of the keeper.
City were the stronger side in the second period but could not rest until late in the game. Rusher had seen another effort saved by Craven and Adam Rogers making a welcome return to first team action saw a long rang effort saved by Craven. It took City until the seventy sixth minute to add the second goal. Danny Wakefield won an excellent challenge in the middle of the park before playing the ball wide to Dyke. Dykes cross into the area was turned home by Kneller.
Three minutes later and the contest was over. Rogers’ pass into the path of Rusher allowed Rusher to pass the ball past Craven for his first senior goal for City since his transfer from Andover.
There was still time for Dyke to be thwarted by Craven and for Downton to have another opportunity, City debutant goalkeeper Dan Chapman having replaced the injured Zawadski made a fine stop from Luke Hatchman.
The bad news for City was the last minute dismissal of Dyke for words directed at one of the Assistant Referees. City now are at home to Wimborne in the Quarter Final, who defeated Gosport Borough 2-0, with the game scheduled for Tuesday 10th January.
Winchester : Zawadski (Chapman 59), King, Bicknell, R Lewis, Lang, N Lewis (Rogers 59), Rackham (55), Wakefield, Rusher, Kneller, Dyke Unused subs Davies and L Green
Downton : Craven, D Robertson, Bartlett (Thick 45), Gulliver (Wilkinson 65), Smith, Gain (Browning 77), Alford, Waters, Robertson, Hatchman, Western Unused sub Street
Document last updated: 08/06/2007
