City welcomed their new Assistant Manager Steve Melledew for his home debut and Manager Andy Leader paid him the compliment of sitting in the stand and letting him and coach Jimmy Ball take the box. Steve’s acquisition by Winchester strengthens an already impressive managerial line-up and with three ex-professionals in charge the team can only go from strength to strength.
The Cup tie gave the Club the opportunity to give a few players a first team run-out so that the managerial trio could check on their potential. In, addition, Andy Leader handed out a series of player statistic forms so that City’s supporters could conduct their own survey of individual player’s performance on the night. It was also good to see Alpha Dialio taking part in the warm up. The young French player picked up a bad injury during City’s summer tournament but happily is now returning to fitness.
Totton and Eling came to the Denplan City Ground as underdogs and as a consequence started at a good pace determined to show that they had the ability to give City a game and for the first 20 minutes play was even with both defences busy but with neither side really creating a chance.
City took the lead in the 31st minute when T&E’s keeper, Pete Houkes, flapped at a corner from Terry Cox and Brett Williams pounced on the loose ball to power home from close range. This gave City the opening they needed and they dominated the rest of the game but without really commanding the match. Just before half time they could have gone two-up when Matt Bowler came close with a header from a free kick.
The second half was a much better half than the first with T&E exerting some early pressure but with City always looking the more likely to score. Williams beat the defender and forced a good save with the keeper diving low to his right and Sam Lockyer put a powerfiul long- range shot which was an inch or two wide of the post.
The game turned, however, when T&E’s number 6, Graham Mills, was sent off for appearing to stamp on Dave Allen as they both struggled to get up from a tackle. Just after Ross Diaper, who had worked hard on the flank was replaced by Tom Riddell who added some strength to the attack and who sewed up the result with a great solo run from a long clearance in the 75th minute. The visitors protested that he was offside but neither the assistant or the referee thought so.
Playing against 10 men City piled on the pressure. Cox laid a corner back to Lockyer who forced the keeper into another good save with Allen just being beaten to the loose ball when he looked certain to score.
With time running out Adam George and Steve Llewellyn were give a rest and Scott Gilham and Liam Gilbert played out the rest of the match. Almost on time some interplay between Riddell and Williams resulted in the latter forcing another save.
CITY: Andy Baylis, James Wilson, James Davis, Adam George, Steve Llewellyn, Matt Bowler, Terry Cox, Dave Allen, Brett Williams, Ross Diaper, Sam Lockyer, Substitutes: Scott Gilham (80th), Liam Gilbert (80th), James Wilkinson, Tom Riddell (69th).
This Saturday City travel to Taunton for a Southern League fixture, kick off 3.00p.m.
SOUTHAMPTON SENIOR CUP
City are at home to Southampton Premier League Hedge End Rangers on Tuesday 20th November, kick off 7.45p.m. when they will be seeking to win through to the quarter finals of the cup.
