Hampshire Senior Cup - Round 3. Winchester City 5, Romsey Town 0

JAMIE Laidlaw grabbed his second four-goal haul of the season as City comfortably overcame neighbours Romsey Town last Saturday.

The in-form striker took his season's tally to 32 and is fast assuming the mantle of Andy Forbes as the club's destroyer of defences.

It was a brave performance from the visitors, but they were penned in for long periods and City keeper Simon Arthur was virtually a spectator throughout.

City's reward is a quarter-final tie at Stockbridge on February 5th.

They welcomed back player/coaches Gary Green (after his 112 day suspension) and Mark Blake (after injury), while Adam Rogers partnered Laidlaw in the absence of injury victims Ian Mancey and Jamie Musselwhite.

Despite their early pressure, City didn't break down the resolute Romsey defence for half an hour. Shaun Dyke caused his usual problems with foraging runs down the right, but no-one was able to cash in on his crosses.

Romsey forced a couple of efforts on the break, Greg King seeing his header from a Simon Woodley free kick saved by Arthur, whilst Woodley also tested the keeper with a 25 yard free kick.

Laidlaw glanced a header just wide of the target before the breakthrough finally came. Bicknell's pass into the path of Rogers saw him lay the ball back into the path of Laidlaw who delicately chipped the ball over Town keeper Mike Hookway into the net.

Three minutes before the interval City added a second when Dyke put Lloyd Webber through and the skipper steadied himself before planting the ball under the advancing Hookway. City almost added a third in stoppage time when David Goss' header was cleared off the line by Woodley on to the bar and then away to safety.

The second half started at a slower pace and Romsey held possession for some time. But the killer blow arrived on fifty-eight minutes when Dyke left three defenders in his wake before crossing for Laidlaw to turn the ball home from close range. Three minutes, Dyke was again the provider, but Laidlaw's header hit the foot of the post.

An ugly clash after 73 minutes between Romsey's Greg King and City's Toby Redwood saw referee Martin Bloor produce red cards for both players. The inevitable suspension for Redwood will add to his 84 day ban that starts on Monday (Dec 13th).

With twelve minutes remaining, Laidlaw claimed his hat trick after substitute Mark Smith had laid the ball into his path. Six minutes later, Smith had a shot blocked by a Romsey defender, but the ball fell just right for Laidlaw to loft it over Hookway for his fourth goal of the afternoon.

City: Arthur, Dyke, Bicknell, Redwood, Goss, Blake (Austen 71), Webber (Smith 78), G Green (Buckman 60), Rogers, Laidlaw, L Green. Unused subs Chahal and Brewster

Romsey: Hookway, Geddes (Oakley), Woodley, Wickes, P King, Carlin, Croudson, Kemp, G King, De'ath, Smith (Thomas) Unused sub Foster.

City travel to Kent tomorrow (Sat 11th) to meet Thamesmead Town in the third round of the FA Vase.

On Tuesday night (14th) they're at home to Moneyfields Sports in an SWL fixture (7.45pm).

The rest of the Hampshire Senior Cup quarter-finals draw reads: Bashley v Gosport Borough, Basingstoke Town v Farnborough Town and Andover v Aldershot Town.