Bashley 2 Winchester City 3

City bounce back to dump league leaders out of cup

Mark Zawadski made his first start for City away to league leaders Bashley in the Errea Southern League Cup on Tuesday and had the misfortune to concede a goal from a supurb shot in the 6th minute. After this setback he gained in confidence and completed a very good match.

Although City were the first to create a goal chance, when Jamie Muselwhite fired wide, it was Bashley who exerted the early pressure but gradually City found their feet and began to hit back. A superb long ball from Pete Smith was just too long for Lloyd Webber who was well placed. Mark Gamble won a free kick on the edge of the area but Smith?s kick bounced off the defensive wall.

City continued to press with Danny Wakefield playing a prominent part both in attack and defence, well coached from the line by Manager Steve Moss who?s instructions to the youngester kept him in constant motion. The break-through came in the 35th minute when Smith converted a brilliant solo run by smashing home an angled shot. Another youngster who is showing potential was Sam Cockerill who worked hard throughout the match with some intelligent play.

Winchester could have gone in at half time in the lead when a defence splitting cross by Wakefield was headed just wide by Mussselwhite.

They did, however take the lead early in the second period which started late because some prankster slipped the padlock closed on the match official?s door! Webber chested the ball down, beat the defender and crossed for Musselwhite to hit a screamer on the volley from the edge of the box past the flaying keeper.

The team at this stage were probably playing their best football so far this season and although Bashley fought to get back in the game the City defence were never really in difficulties, Dave Goss, Andy Darnton and Stewart Lang all turned in towering performances.

To the delight of the City supports Webber capped a good game by whipping a piledriver into the net (72nd minute) completing a move initiated by Wes O?Connor, another player settling in to a postive roll in the side.

A few minutess later Winchester made two substitutions, Sam Wyeth came on for Webber who had taken a knock and Richard Mealey replaced Musselwhite who is still recovering from injury. These moves upset the balance of the team for a period and allowed Bashley to mount the pressure again. Although he did not score, centre forward Gamble showed his worth in this period holding the ball up at the front and dropping back into midfield to collect when needed.

Bashley gave themselves a chance of extra time with a well worked goal in the 83rd minute but Wincheter held out to record a well-earned win.

City: Mark Zawadski, Dan Wakefield, Pete Smith, Dave Goss, Stewart Lang, Andy Darnton, Lloyd Webber, Sam Cockerill, Mark Gamble, Jamie Musselwhite, Wes O?Connor, Substitutes, Richard Mealey, Sam Wyeth, Tom King, David Hook