AFC Totton (2 - 3) Win City
Facing Southern League AFC Totton away in the second round of the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday 16th September 2014, City made a mockery of the difference in their league status to win the tie having to survive a last ten minute surge by the home side.
Wearing their new yellow away kit for the first time minus their blue shorts because of a clash of colours (they wore their old blacks shorts!) City looked to have been over -run in the first ten minutes of the game as the Stags surged forward. This, however, proved a false dawn for Totton and as the game progressed and as City began to play their attacking game, they looked the likely winners.
City goalkeeper Ross Casey, back after a lengthy lay off, was soon called into action to save from Nathan Hurst but it was Winchester who won the first corner of the game and from the kick Leigh Mills headed across the box for Luke Dempsey to head just over the bar.
Casey made another good save after Joe Maxwell won the ball and fed Taylor Edwards who shot from close range and kept City in the game saving with his legs from Kyle O'Brien. He was also responsible for a mistake that could have lead to a goal when he came out of goal to head away but directed the ball straight to a Totton player but luckily it rebounded back into his hands!
City's break came in the 43rd minute when Ben Stanbrook, on a run, was pulled back in the penalty area and the Referee had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick. Warren Bentley coolly put it away.
City started the second half on the attack and Mike McEnery jinxed through the Stags defence but took too long to get in his shot and it presented an easy save to 'keeper Steve Mowthorpe. Chris Manning broke through only to put his shot over the bar and then a penetrating run by Zach Glasspool saw him hit the side netting.
As Winchester piled on the pressure McEnemy forced another save out of Mowthorpe and then Bentley added the second goal when he turned the full back and smashed the ball home. Glasspool converted a touch from Bentley to bring yet another save.
The Stags were making no progress against a well marshalled City defence with Stuart Green, Adam Tomasso and Joe Wright all playing above and beyond the call of duty.
In the 75th minute City made a change, resting Bentley and replacing him with Geoff Dunn. Within a minute City went three-up when Glasspool, after a solo run, dipped a shoulder, wrong footed the 'keeper and scored a super individual goal.
Winchester tried to consolidated their lead in the 81st minute when McEnery and Stanbook came off to be replaced by Adam Roberts (listed as Ada in the team sheet!) and Ryan Holloway. The move did not work as expected, Totton got on the scoresheet in the 87th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Nathaniel Sherborne took the kick and Casey saved it but unfortunately could not hold on and Sherbourne turned the rebound into the net.
With the 90 minutes up the Referee played on and in the 92nd minute the Stags pulled one more back through Kyle O'Brien after City failed to clear their lines and endured another four minutes of pressure before the final whistle sounded to signal the win.
City: Ross Casey, Adam Tomasso, Joe Wright, Stuart Green, Leigh Mills, Luke Dempsey, Mike McEnery, Chris Manning, Zach Glasspool, Warren Bentley, Ben Stanbrook, Chris Mason, Geoff Dunn, Dominic Cope, Adam Roberts and Ryan Holloway.
Att: 170
