F.A. TROPHY FIRST ROUND

WINCHESTER CITY 1 OXFORD CITY 0

CITY COME OF AGE

City's 1-0 victory over Oxford City in the F.A.Trophy at home on saturday was a more emphatic win than the scoreline indicated. It was also the game
in which Steve Moss rebuilt Wessex League team came of age and showed that it could take on a good Southern League side and beat them.

Playing with a strong wind at their backs, it was felt that City would need to build a lead and defend it in the second half as the weather influenced
the game. Events proved different however, and it took Winchester 49 minutes to score after dominating the first half in which they could gone in three goals to the good instead on on level terms.

City showed their intent early on and in the 5th minute minute a perfectly weighted ball from Lloyd Webber found Mark Gamble and he lifted his shot
over the advancing keeper but unfortunately also just over the bar.

As City increased the pressure Jamie Musselwhite put a header just over the bar from a corner and Ian Mancey put in a similar header over the bar from  cross by Mark Williams. despite their dominence it was City who nearly went behind in the tie. Goalkeeper mark Zawadski came off his line but failed to clear the ball which fell to Oxford's Tony Alleyane who with the empty net at his mercy sliced his shot wide.

As the half ended Sam Cockerill fired in a great solo effort just wide of the Oxford post.

City's deserved breakthrough came early in the second half. Musselwhite flicked the ball over a defender and then controlled it well before lobbing the keeper from close range.

Oxford hit back almost immediately and Zawadski brought off a one-handed save at the far post. Overlaps by Pete Smith set up chances for Webber and Gamble as City pressed to extend their lead but the goal would not come. Melvin Rogers added some pace to the City defence who were never really overstretched and Francis Dolan was often released to make forward runs and put in several good crosses.

With just over an hour's play Manager Steve Moss brought on Tom Vavrecka for Cockerill and his fresh legs added emphasis to an attack which was running out of ideas. Oxford also played their substitutes and the game became stalemated for a period as both sides settled to a new rhythm. The "killer" goal looked on when a Musselwhite shot was parried and Gamble running in well slammed goalwards but it was deflected for a corner which was cleared.

In order to break the deadlock and put the game out of reach for Oxford, Gamble came off for Chris Flood (84th minute) and Mancey for James Davis
(86th minute) bit the score remained at 1-0 until the final whistle.

This Saturday City are away to Paulton Rovers, kick off 3.00p.m.

City: Mark Zawadski, Danny Wakefield, Pete Smith, Mark Jones, Francis Dolan, Melvin Rogers, Lloyd Webber, Sam Cockerill, Ian Mancey, Jamie Musselwhite, Mark Gamble: Substitutes, Tom Vavrecka (62), James Davis (86), Chris Flood (84), Andy Darnton and David Hook.