STOCKBRIDGE, as expected, succumbed to Wessex Division 1 leaders City at the Rec last Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup, writes Ian Henderson.

Stocks fought hard, particularly in the first half, but the extra experience and fitness of their higher grade opponents proved to be the decisive factor in the end.

Both teams struggled to field full strength sides, with City giving a debut to goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris and Shaun Dyke returning to the side after being unavailable in midweek.

City attacked from the start and home keeper Alan Ralph had to be alert to foil several attacks. But they took the lead in the twelfth minute when Adam Rogers sent a speculative dipping shot from thirty yards over the stranded goalkeeper.

Ralph saved well from Musselwhite as City pressed, but Stocks counterattacked and the tricky Ryan Boare raced into the penalty City area where Walker-Harris dived at the striker's feet to push the ball away. Loud appeals for a penalty as Boare went sprawling were ignored by referee Potter.

But the home side equalised on 33 minutes when slack marking from a Boare free kick allowed skipper Dean Savage to flick a header into the corner of the net. That gave Stocks hope as they continued to work hard, but City restored their lead just before the break when Jamie Laidlaw sidestepped a defender before firing home his 36th goal of the season.

Laidlaw set up Lloyd Webber to crack a left foot drive past Ralph eleven minutes into the second period to end the game as a contest. With the home side beginning to tire more goals looked likely, and Mark Jones headed against the post from a Dyke cross.

The fourth goal came on the hour when Rogers' ball into the area saw Musselwhite arrive just before Ralph to squeeze it home. Ten minutes later, Webber rounded off the scoring with his second as he converted from Bicknell's cross.

There could have been more as Laidlaw twice saw headers rebound off the post. But that would have been harsh on a brave Stockbridge team.

Manager Barry Andrews commented: "We gave it everything and I thought we were still in the game until they scored their second. "I'm pleased with the way the lads stuck at it."

City progress to a two-legged affair with fellow Wessex League side Gosport Borough, while the other semi-final sees Aldershot take on Basingstoke Town. The final will be played at AFC Bournemouth's Fitness First Stadium.