City hardly sailed into the last 16 of the Southampton Senior Cup on
Tuesday night but slipped and slided their way to victory on a
rapidly deteriorating pitch in a 90 minute downpour, witnessed by 109
brave souls!

 An early chance fell to Dave Allen but he could not control the ball
and his hasty shot went wide as City set out to dominate the game. 
Luke Hornsley put in a good cross for Mark Lilley to edge to Adam Lang
whose shot was well saved by Solent's keeper Luke Stanbridge. As
City kept up the pressure Matt Bowler had a header saved and after a
penetrating run Brett Williams laid on a chance for Allan but again
the 'keeper got to his shot.

Solent offered very little up front but did have a chance but as Clint
Davies narrowed the angle their forward blazed high and wide.

Williams worked hard up-front and lured the keeper out to the edge of
the box, beat him but put his shot into the side netting and then
Lang worked the ball down the flank and crossed for Allen to send Lilley
away but his shot was well saved.

City's breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Williams controlled the
ball from a powerful cross and laid it back for Sam Lockyer to
slam a shot past the 'keeper from the edge of the penalty area.

Solent hit back immediately and sent a header just wide but City ended
the half with Hornsley carving out a chance for Lilley which he put
just over the bar.

Manager Andy Leader made two changes at the start of the second half and
ten minutes later brought on his third substitute with Andy
Darnton, Tom Riddell and Adam George replacing Steve Llewellyn, Sam
Lockyer and Brett Williams. before they could settle Solent placed a
shot on top of the City net but gradually, fitness took over and the
home side created numerous chances before sewing up the game. James
Wilson and Lang created from the back, George added some bite to
mid-field and Terry Cox began to make some more forward runs. Hounsley
and
Lilley worked hard in the box and Allen combined well with youth player
Tom Riddell  to give the Solent defence a lot of problems.

It was a great solo effort from Allen in the 67th minute which ensured
the victory. He scored after picking up the ball from George in
midfield and outpacing the Solent defence.

Another individual goal in the 88th minute put the icing on the cake.
Riddell burst through and steadied himself to beat the 'keeper from
close range but delayed a fraction too long and the ball was hacked away
for a corner. Taken by Lang this was cleared for another and on
this occasion he laid it back to George who drove into the penalty area
and hit an unstopable shot into the net.

City face a much tougher Cup tie at home to Gosport Borough on Saturday
in the F.A. Trophy, kick off 3.00 p.m.

City: Clint Davies,  James Wilson, Adam Lang, Terry Cox, Matt Bowler,
Steve Llewellyn, Luke Hornsley, Dave Allen, Brett Williams, Mark
Lilley, Sam Lockyer, Substitutes: Andy Darnton (46th), Adam George
(46th), Tom Riddell (56th).