Dream is over Cirencester are beaten by City’s extra-time blitz
CIRENCESTER Town’s hopes of promotion from Southern League Division One South were ended on Tuesday night as they went down 4-1 to Winchester City in their play-off semi-final.
After the sides finished level at 1-1 in 90 minutes, Winchester scored three times in the extra half-hour to seal their final place.
A crowd of 393 were at the Corinium Stadium and witnessed a tight opening 45 minutes which ended goalless.
But it was the visiting Citizens who broke the deadlock just shy of the hourmark when Craig Feeney drove the ball home after some good interplay.
Then, on 77 minutes, Josh Parsons equalised after City’s keeper Charlie Philpott had saved an initial free kick.
It ended all-square at full-time, so it was an extra half an hour to try and separate the sides.
And, seconds after Parsons had a chance blocked, Winchester made it 2-1 in the 104th minute through Henry Brooks.
In the 110th minute, City made it 3-1, again following a swift breakaway and it was Brooks again on target.
Winchester confirmed their place in the final at home just three minutes later when Max Smith fired home a fierce effort past Alex Harris.
Winchester go through to face Bristol Manor Farm in the final on Monday after Farm won 3-1 at second-pcaed Frome Town.
Cirencester had booked the play-off clash with Winchester after ending the regular season with a 2-1 win at Paulton Rovers.
A Ben Whitehead brace was enough to secure the points as the striker brought up 100 goals for the club.
Both goals came in the closing moments of the first half, as Whitehead scored inside the near right post then in added time he headed home from a corner.
Paulton pulled a goal back at the mid-point of the second half when Leighton Thomas clipped a cross inside the right post.
Evesham United, having secured Step 4 status at Cinderford Town on Bank Holiday Monday, ended their season with a 2-0 win over Larkhall Athletic.
It took 70 minutes before the game came to life when Adam Pepera’s header found the back of the net, only to be ruled out for offside.
Then, in the 77th minute, following an excellent build up involving Toumani Sidibe and Jordan Lymn, Sam Judge turned in the box before tucking his shot just inside the post for his first Southern League goal.
Evesham’s captain Adam Mace then scored his first goal of the season, a 30-yard free kick which gave Larkhall’s keeper no chance.