Wednesday 21st December
Hampshire Senior Cup
Winchester City 0 Eastleigh 2
Without the injured Jamie Musselwhite, Ian Mancey, Christer Warren, the unavailable Liam Green and cup tied Lloyd Webber, Winchester City lost this Quarter Final Hampshire Senior Cup tie against higher grade opposition of three rungs in Eastleigh, thus not having further chance to retain the trophy they won at A F C Bournemouth Fitness First Stadium last April.
It was a lost to ask of this Winchester City side that eventually had to concede defeat the first time that manager Steve Tate has been subjected to a loss since taking over the role sixteen games ago.
In a game that seemed set to sparkle into life at any stage, the overall feeling was of a lack lustre cup tie from which City were always in the game and competing well but never really troubling visiting goalkeeper Wayne Shaw. Although slightly busier Shaw’s opposite number David Hook did not have the busiest of evenings.
Match referee James Evamy the most to do cautioning four players on each side and always having to be alert following a couple of healthy looking challenges from both camps. Not much goalmouth action had been given to the 477 strong crowd before Eastleigh took the leads after eighteen minutes. Ian Oliver’s whipped left wing cross was flicked goal wards by Martin Thomas, Hook diving to parry the ball only out to Luke Douglas for the ex Luton striker to net his first goal on his first start for the club.
As much as City battled their way in the middle of the park, the visiting defensive pairing of Chris Collins and Bradley Thomas kept Vince Rusher and Ben Kneller well marshalled. Eastleigh always looking quick on the break and from set pieces.
As the interval approached one set piece involving David Hughes ands Martin Thomas allowed a header for Steve Forbes inside the area which was well saved by Hook. A minute before the interval City had arguable their best chance when a dipping twenty yards volley from Danny Wakefield, one of two ex Eastleigh players in the City line up, flew just over the bar. Play switched to the other end of the park where Martin Thomas was set up by Andy Forbes but shot just wide.
City had to withdraw skipper Mark Jones at the start of the second period due to injury which meant a reshuffle to the City line up. Within two minutes of the restart of the second period Douglas had netted Eastleigh’s second goal and City were facing a massive uphill struggle. A right wing cross from Nick Stavroulakis was not cleared by Stewart Lang and Douglas reacted to turn the ball home.
City : Hook, Buckman, Bicknell, Mark Jones (Rogers 45), Lang, Davies, Dyke, Wakefield, Rusher, Kneller (Lilley 81), McCormick Unused subs Vavrecka, Nelson, Chapman
Eastleigh : Shaw, Smith, Oliver, S Forbes, Collins (Marshall), B Thomas, M Thomas (Roberts 65), A Forbes, Douglas, Hughes (Ashford 54), Stavroulakis Unused subs Town, Walker-Harris
Winchester City 0 Eastleigh 2
Without the injured Jamie Musselwhite, Ian Mancey, Christer Warren, the unavailable Liam Green and cup tied Lloyd Webber, Winchester City lost this Quarter Final Hampshire Senior Cup tie against higher grade opposition of three rungs in Eastleigh, thus not having further chance to retain the trophy they won at A F C Bournemouth Fitness First Stadium last April.
It was a lost to ask of this Winchester City side that eventually had to concede defeat the first time that manager Steve Tate has been subjected to a loss since taking over the role sixteen games ago.
In a game that seemed set to sparkle into life at any stage, the overall feeling was of a lack lustre cup tie from which City were always in the game and competing well but never really troubling visiting goalkeeper Wayne Shaw. Although slightly busier Shaw’s opposite number David Hook did not have the busiest of evenings.
Match referee James Evamy the most to do cautioning four players on each side and always having to be alert following a couple of healthy looking challenges from both camps. Not much goalmouth action had been given to the 477 strong crowd before Eastleigh took the leads after eighteen minutes. Ian Oliver’s whipped left wing cross was flicked goal wards by Martin Thomas, Hook diving to parry the ball only out to Luke Douglas for the ex Luton striker to net his first goal on his first start for the club.
As much as City battled their way in the middle of the park, the visiting defensive pairing of Chris Collins and Bradley Thomas kept Vince Rusher and Ben Kneller well marshalled. Eastleigh always looking quick on the break and from set pieces.
As the interval approached one set piece involving David Hughes ands Martin Thomas allowed a header for Steve Forbes inside the area which was well saved by Hook. A minute before the interval City had arguable their best chance when a dipping twenty yards volley from Danny Wakefield, one of two ex Eastleigh players in the City line up, flew just over the bar. Play switched to the other end of the park where Martin Thomas was set up by Andy Forbes but shot just wide.
City had to withdraw skipper Mark Jones at the start of the second period due to injury which meant a reshuffle to the City line up. Within two minutes of the restart of the second period Douglas had netted Eastleigh’s second goal and City were facing a massive uphill struggle. A right wing cross from Nick Stavroulakis was not cleared by Stewart Lang and Douglas reacted to turn the ball home.
City : Hook, Buckman, Bicknell, Mark Jones (Rogers 45), Lang, Davies, Dyke, Wakefield, Rusher, Kneller (Lilley 81), McCormick Unused subs Vavrecka, Nelson, Chapman
Eastleigh : Shaw, Smith, Oliver, S Forbes, Collins (Marshall), B Thomas, M Thomas (Roberts 65), A Forbes, Douglas, Hughes (Ashford 54), Stavroulakis Unused subs Town, Walker-Harris
Document last updated: 08/06/2007
