WHAT a night it was for Wessex leaders Winchester City!

Having booked their passage to the Hampshire Senior Cup final at AFC Bournemouth next month (April 27), they received the bonus news that two of their main title rivals had slipped up in league combat.

AFC Newbury's recent demise continued with a 4-2 defeat at Moneyfields, while Lymington & New Milton were held to a frustrating goalless draw at lowly Alton Town.

Despite holding a 4-1 first-leg advantage over Gosport Borough, City pledged to go on all-attack at Privett Park - and proved as good as their word by edging a 4-3 thriller.

With eight players either cup-tied, injured or suspended, City borrowed Shaun Dyke and Mark Blake back from Eastleigh for the night.

Graham Lindsey got Gosport off to an ideal start with a fifth-minute opener, but City ended the first half strongly with Jamie Laidlaw and Jamie Musselwhite scoring and Lloyd Webber hitting the upright.

Lindsey struck twice to swing it 3-2 in Borough's favour, but Dyke bagged a penalty equaliser following keeper Mark Brown's foul on Webber.

Gosport's Mark Tryon was sent off for a second yellow on 85 minutes and City punished the ten men with an excellent stoppage-time strike from young Ben Kneller - his first senior goal for the club.

Proud manager Neil Hards said: "After all the turmoil we've had, it's a great bonus to be playing in the Cup final. I'm so pleased for everyone at the club.

"We didn't defend that well at times, but we kept going with our attacking football."