City steal a march on title rivals - last 16 of the Vase is now the target

Winchester City 5, Whitchurch Utd 0

WINCHESTER City had a very good day last Saturday - not only did they secure a fine win themselves, but the two other main championship contenders, Wimborne Town and Gosport Borough, both dropped points.

This allowed City to gain ground on leaders Wimborne in the promotion race, but Wimborne's win on Tuesday means that the Dorset side are now seven points ahead again - although City have three games in hand.

With manager Neil Hards away watching this weekend's FA Vase opponents Mossley, City were under the guidance of Gary Green, Mark Blake and Steve Moss. There was a Wessex League debut for new goalkeeper Simon Arthur.

The team produced another good performance, led by two more goals from top scorer Andy Forbes.

In the early stages, Whitchurch were able to hold City, thanks largely to a solid performance from visiting keeper Paul Marchant, who saved smartly to deny Andy Forbes and Ian Mancey. He was beaten after 16 minutes but fortunately for him Lloyd Webber's thunderbolt effort cannoned back off the crossbar.

This solid showing was short lived, however, as on 29 minutes a teasing Matt Bicknell cross was met by Forbes, whose downwards header deflected in off former City player Cliff Power for an unlucky own goal.

Whitchurch, who worked hard throughout, simply had no guile in attack and were made to pay just before half-time when a Shaun Dyke cross was headed home by Danny Smith.

City went 3-nil up straight from the restart when Forbes punished some sloppy defending to lob over the keeper from 12 yards. Eight minutes later it was four when Bicknell's freekick from 30 yards evaded everyone and beat the keeper at his far post.

Bicknell could well have scored three, but he squandered two chances when he found himself one on one with the keeper.

Debutant Simon Arthur had an extremely quiet afternoon in the City goal and it was always unlikely that Whitchurch would force him into a save.

The home side added a finishing touch to proceedings in injury time when Forbes struck a powerful shot into the bottom left hand corner from just inside the 18 yard box.

City: Arthur, Dyke, Bicknell, Hall (Goss 45), Redwood, Blake, Webber, Smith, Mancey (Tate 55), Forbes, L Green. Unused sub: G Green.

Big game at Mossley

Tomorrow (Saturday), City travel to Mossley, between Oldham and Manchester, for an FA Vase 4th round tie, writes Ian Henderson.

The home side suffered their first defeat in 23 games last Saturday when they went down 3-1 at Nantwich. But they still lead Division 1 of the North West Counties League by six points.

Neil Hards watched the game and the City manager says he saw nothing to fear.

"They're a decent side, but I caught them on a bad day. They can obviously play a bit, but I think we can get past them," he told me.

The City squad of 18 players will travel north tonight (Friday) but Hards has injury doubts about Ian Mancey (ricked neck) and defender Kieron Hall (bruised ribs). Both men picked up the injuries against Whitchurch.

City will have almost 100 supporters at the game and a win would put them into the last 16 of the competition.

Should a replay be necessary, it'll take place next Saturday (Jan 24th).

Other fixtures

City's Reserves entertain Cowes tomorrow (3pm), while the youth team will be at home on Monday night (19th).

They take on Havant & Waterlooville in the semi finals of the Hampshire Midweek Youth Floodlit Cup (7.30 pm).

The first team travel to Brockenhurst on Tuesday night to play a Russell-Cotes Cup tie (7.45 pm).

Hussey available after all

Striker Stuart Hussey will be able to play for City before the end of the month after all and may figure at Brockenhurst on Tuesday.

The SWL have rescinded a decision that he should have to wait 28 days and the 23 year old former Bashley player is presently gaining match fitness by playing for Hartley Wintney in the Combined Counties League.