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First Qualifying Round
WINCHESTER CITY 2 GOSPORT BOROUGH 2
City probably entered this Trophy tie as the underdogs but ended up a whisker away from winners and had to settle for a replay on Tuesday 23rd October.
Former City favourite Lloyd Webber was Gosports’ captain on the day but his usual influence in midfield was not too much in evidence as Winchester snuffed out most of the attacking moves.
Gosport started strongly and for about ten minutes kept City penned in their half but Matt Bowler led from the back with good support from Adam Lang and James Wilson and the visitors were denied any chances.
As City began to assert their control Mark Lilley had a header converted for a corner and a good cross by Matt Czastka was just too far forward for Dave Allen to connect. Ex- City keeper Simon Arthur made a good save from a Sam Lockyer piledriver. From the resultant corner Bowler rose above the Gosport defence to see his header cleared off the line by Dave Birmingham. Lockyer picked up the loose ball only to have his shot scrambled away.
At the other end a long-range shot by Justin Bennett appeared to have deceived Clint Davies but he recovered brilliantly to dive and palm the ball away. As usual Steve Llewellyn worked hard and he created an opening for Czastka but he overran the ball and the chance was lost.
As the half progressed City created the room to come forward with Adam Lang and Mark Lilley on one flank and Wilson and Czastka on the other sending in crosses which Brett Williams dealt with in his best game for the Club so far. Just before the whistle he had the chance to give the City the lead when he chested the ball down and shot on the run but again the keeper was up to the task and saved well.
Again, at the beginning of the half, Gosport exerted some pressure with Birmingham shooting straight at Davies but again City also weathered the storm and dominated the rest of the game.
Allen put in a long run but shot high and wide and Adam George broke from midfield to slot through for Williams who also put his shot over the bar.
Czastka combined with Allen who headed just wide as City pressed and in the 66th minute their efforts were rewarded when Williams was gifted the ball after a defensive error and he cooly lobbed the keeper from 30 yards. A few minutes later Williams flicked on a header for Allen to slam his shot against a post.
Gosport equalised in the 76th minute when the ball was deflected to Michael White from a shot by James Ford which was going well wide and he netted from close range. The visitors took the lead in the 87th minute when Davies parried a shot from Richard Way and John Wilson squeezed the loose ball through a packed defence.
With time running out City won a replay when Williams repeated his first gaol in the first minute of injury time with a second lob and could have won the tie in the 94th minute but with unerring accuracy Allen hit the same post in the same spot with his shot!
Manager Andy Leader was so pleased with the performance of his side that he did not want to upset their rhythm and did not use any substitutes
CITY: Clint Davies, James Wilson, Adam Lang, Matt Bowler, Steve Llewellyn, Matt Czatka, Dave Allen, Brett Williams, Mark Lilley Sam Lockyer, Substitutes, Andy Darnton, Luke Hornsley, Terry Cox, Tom Riddell and Matt Freeman.
City probably entered this Trophy tie as the underdogs but ended up a whisker away from winners and had to settle for a replay on Tuesday 23rd October.
Former City favourite Lloyd Webber was Gosports’ captain on the day but his usual influence in midfield was not too much in evidence as Winchester snuffed out most of the attacking moves.
Gosport started strongly and for about ten minutes kept City penned in their half but Matt Bowler led from the back with good support from Adam Lang and James Wilson and the visitors were denied any chances.
As City began to assert their control Mark Lilley had a header converted for a corner and a good cross by Matt Czastka was just too far forward for Dave Allen to connect. Ex- City keeper Simon Arthur made a good save from a Sam Lockyer piledriver. From the resultant corner Bowler rose above the Gosport defence to see his header cleared off the line by Dave Birmingham. Lockyer picked up the loose ball only to have his shot scrambled away.
At the other end a long-range shot by Justin Bennett appeared to have deceived Clint Davies but he recovered brilliantly to dive and palm the ball away. As usual Steve Llewellyn worked hard and he created an opening for Czastka but he overran the ball and the chance was lost.
As the half progressed City created the room to come forward with Adam Lang and Mark Lilley on one flank and Wilson and Czastka on the other sending in crosses which Brett Williams dealt with in his best game for the Club so far. Just before the whistle he had the chance to give the City the lead when he chested the ball down and shot on the run but again the keeper was up to the task and saved well.
Again, at the beginning of the half, Gosport exerted some pressure with Birmingham shooting straight at Davies but again City also weathered the storm and dominated the rest of the game.
Allen put in a long run but shot high and wide and Adam George broke from midfield to slot through for Williams who also put his shot over the bar.
Czastka combined with Allen who headed just wide as City pressed and in the 66th minute their efforts were rewarded when Williams was gifted the ball after a defensive error and he cooly lobbed the keeper from 30 yards. A few minutes later Williams flicked on a header for Allen to slam his shot against a post.
Gosport equalised in the 76th minute when the ball was deflected to Michael White from a shot by James Ford which was going well wide and he netted from close range. The visitors took the lead in the 87th minute when Davies parried a shot from Richard Way and John Wilson squeezed the loose ball through a packed defence.
With time running out City won a replay when Williams repeated his first gaol in the first minute of injury time with a second lob and could have won the tie in the 94th minute but with unerring accuracy Allen hit the same post in the same spot with his shot!
Manager Andy Leader was so pleased with the performance of his side that he did not want to upset their rhythm and did not use any substitutes
CITY: Clint Davies, James Wilson, Adam Lang, Matt Bowler, Steve Llewellyn, Matt Czatka, Dave Allen, Brett Williams, Mark Lilley Sam Lockyer, Substitutes, Andy Darnton, Luke Hornsley, Terry Cox, Tom Riddell and Matt Freeman.
Document last updated: 14/07/2008
