City slide to defeat in Bridgwater mud

Bridgwater Town 2, Winchester City 0

Holders and favourites Winchester City crashed out of the FA Vase after a nightmare in Somerset ended in a 2-nil defeat to ten-man Bridgwater Town.

City literally slipped up in the rain at Fairfax Park on a swamp of a playing surface that by the final whistle was almost devoid of a blade of grass.

"The game shouldn't have been played," fumed City Manager Neil Hards.

"We've been beaten by the pitch not the opposition, it was a glue-pot. You couldn't see the players, it was difficult to stand up and I'm thankful no-one's been seriously injured."

Hards named an unchanged team from the eleven that demolished Gosport 5-1, and the City supporters were in good voice amongst a crowd of 631.

The Robins, from the Screwfix Direct Western League, sensed they could cause an upset and started with a greater hunger. They took the lead in the 25th minute, from their fifth corner of the game. Gary Rice's delivery was headed home at the near post by the unmarked Chris Young.

City were forced to abandon the passing game that brings them so much success and were limited to long range shots and headers in their bid to get on the score-sheet. Mark Smith, covered from head to toe in mud, twice headed just wide, while Gary Green narrowly missed the target with a 20-yard drive.

Winchester changed into clean shirts at half-time and could have equalised within minutes of the restart. Mat Jones' header was saved by Ben Fellows and Jamie Laidlaw shot over moments later.

Young had caused problems with his intelligence on the ball, but he threw City a lifeline when he was sent off in the 65th minute. The forward, who had already been cautioned, made a two-footed lunge at Mark Jones to earn first use of the bath.

Yet for all their pressure Winchester failed to force a replay, repeatedly denied by determined defending and a surface as sticky as a tar pit.

Their final chance came with two minutes to go when Jamie Laidlaw slid onto Matt Bicknell's curling cross but fired wide, ensuring City's first blank since August.

In stoppage time sub Ollie Smith raced clear, presenting Steve Sokol with the chance to score a second. The goal looked offside and City coach Steve Moss was sent from the dugout to the stand for protesting.

The jubilant Bridgwater players celebrated their shock win by throwing themselves into the quagmire in front of their fans, while Hards kept the City players on the pitch for an inquest in the rain.

"This was my best day in management," beamed Robins' Trevor Senior.

"Our plan was to get at them and it worked. We knew Shaun Dyke was dangerous so we man-marked him to stop him playing."

It was revenge of sorts for Senior, who didn't last long as manager of Bashley under David Malone, who's now very much part of the furniture at Winchester.

The FA Vase, on display in the Guildhall until the end of February, has given City some fantastic memories over the past three seasons, but City will be hoping this was their last ever game in the competition.

If they achieve the promotion they crave, City would be competing in the more prestigious FA Trophy next season.

City: Arthur, Dyke, Bicknell, Mark Jones, Mat Jones (Gee 68), G Green (Brewster 85), Webber, Buckman, Musselwhite (Rogers 75), Laidlaw, L Green.

City expect to return to winning ways at strugglers Downton in the Sydenhams Wessex League on Saturday.