GLOUCESTER City goalkeeper Ryan Ganaway and the Westleigh Park woodwork contrived to block Havant & Waterlooville's path into the FA Cup first round proper last night.
A home tie against ex-Saint Mark Wright's Southport still beckons, but H&W must do it the hard way in a Monday night replay at Meadow Park (7.45) after being held to a disappointing 1-1 draw.
Gloucester, a league below H&W in the Dr Martens Western Division, threatened a Hallowe'en shocker on 14 minutes when Richard Moore won a header, not once but twice, from Casey Johnson's deep free kick and keeper Paul Nicholls could only flap as the awkwardly looping ball found its way into the net.
Nicholls atoned with a smart double save from Matt Rawlins and Gary Marshall and it was only then that H&W began to stamp their Premier Division class on proceedings.
They could have been away and clear by half-time, but of the five quality chances they created, two - a Paul Wood 20-yarder and a Liam Daish header - were acrobatically saved by Ganaway.
The keeper was well placed too when Paul Wood unleashed an explosive free-kick on 27 minutes but Ganaway could not handle the force of the blast and Gary Connolly pounced on the loose ball to equalise.
Two more H&W efforts - a Gary MacDonald curler and another Daish header - smacked the post late in the first half and Ganaway capped a marvellous display with a blinding 55th-minute save from substitute James Taylor's header.
"It was a world-class save," said player/co-manager Daish. "He was going the other way but managed to turn round and flick it over the bar. I don't think their keeper can play as well as that next time."
l Lymington & New Milton beat Moneyfields 2-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate in the Jewson Wessex League Cup - Matt Town and Steve Strong on target.
Totton had an even more comfortable path through, hammering Swanage & Herston 10-0 on aggregate.
Ian robinson's men triumphed 6-0 at Days Park last night through hat-trick hero John Rowley, two-goal Kevin Reacord and an own goal.
AFC Newbury have been thrown out of the competition for the second year running having fielded an ineligible player in the first leg at Brockenhurst. Cliff Huxford's side get a walkover to round two.
Tim Sills returned from loan at Staines to blast a hat-trick for Basingstoke Town in their 4-1 Hampshire Senior Cup win over East Cowes Vics. Sean Gorman completed the scoring. 'Stoke midfielder Steve Winter returned after a long injury absence and smacked a penalty against the post.
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