Tadley Calleva (1 - 5) Win City
Tadley Calleva 1 Winchester City 5
Tuesday's North Hants Senior Cup semi-final at Tadley's Barlows Park descended into farce when one of the match officials failed to appear. As per rule the Referee asked both sides to agree on a club replacement and Winchester put forward a candidate which was rejected by Tadley Calleva. In the circumstances the Match Co-ordinator used his initiative and contacted a local referee who managed to get to the game but unfortunately not by kick off time. As a consequence the match kicked off 15 minutes late. No doubt the North Hants Divisional Football Association will hold an inquiry into the situation which disrupted both side's pre-match routines.
City dominated the first 15 minutes of the game with Charlie Smeeton getting in an early header. Winchester played all the football but Tadley defended well. The break came in the 15th minute when Zac Glasspool slipped the ball to Smeeton and he worked his way into the box only to be fouled. The Referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty which Warren Bentley confidentialy tucked away.
City continued to press and Glasspool, Bentley and Smeeton all had chances to increase the lead but a well drilled defence managed to cope. At the other end City 'keeper Gareth Barfoot had very little to do but when City were caught too far forward Tadley exploited the gap at the rear to equalise in the 30th minute.
Adam Roberts received an injury which resulted in him leaving the field in the 40th minute to be replaced by Liam Robinson.
Two minutes later City returned to the lead when a good three-man move from a free kick, resulted in the ball being slipped to Jaimie Thoroughgood who had the relatively easy chance of side-footing the ball into the back of the net. Tadley appealed for offside but neither the Assistant or the Referee saw any infringement.
Winchester started the second half determined to win the tie, they allowed Tadley no room to play, every ball was challenged with Dominic Cope, Adam Tomasson, Mick Hubbard, Chris Mason and Luke Dempsey winning tackle after tackle.
In their first attack of the half City's Bentley had a shot well saved and in the next was responsible for the third goal. Bentley held the ball in the box, beat a defender and pinpointed a cross for Robinson to head past the 'keeper.
Tomasso set up the fourth goal in the 57th minute when he worked his way into the penalty area and with the defence in a panic he was brought down for the second penalty of the game. Bentley stepped up to the spot and converted his second penalty.
On the hour Manager Paul Masters gave Tomasso a rest and brought on Ryan Holloway, who soon made his mark when he sent Glasspool away who passed to Robinson who was in a better position to get in a shot and he turned the ball into the net (69th).
Just before the resultant kick off Danilo Cadete came off the bench for Mason.
In a rare Tadley attack Barfoot made a brilliant diving save to prevent a goal before the last act of the match was played out. Just before the whistle good work by Glasspool, saw Cadete set up with a chance, he beat the 'keeper but unfortunately the ball rolled just wide of the far post.
City: Gareth Barfoot, Adam Tomasso, Dominic Cope, Micky Hubbard, Jaimie Thoroughgood, Luke Dempsey, Adam Roberts, Chris Mason, Zack Glasspool, Warren Bentley, Charlie Smeeton, Liam Robinson, Danilo Cadette, Ryan Holloway, Dan Spreadbury and Callum Casson.
