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."

After thumping Totton 6-0 on Saturday the goals dried up for Lymington & NM, who trail Winchester by three points with eight games to go.

It wasn't for want of trying by the Linnets, who had a Paul Towler 'goal' disallowed and hit the bar through Ben Thomson and Sam Carter.

"I can't be annoyed because they gave me everything. There's nothing else they could have done," said manager Ian Robinson.

"Alton got people behind the ball and their keeper's led a charmed life."

Manager Guy Whittingham reckons Newbury''s title dream is over after being sunk by goals from Lee Mould, Graham Gillman (2) and Steve Black at Moneyfields.

Ashley Vine struck twice for the Berkshire visitors, but Whittingham said: "We've got no chance of winning the league now.

"Before tonight I said we could possibly finish second if one of the other two messed up, but even that will be difficult now."

Christchurch beat Hamworthy 3-0 thanks to strikes from John Wyatt, Sam Percival and Paul Rideout.