Sittingbourne 5 - 4 Winchester

Winchester City's first-ever appearance in the second round proper of the FA Trophy saw them lose 5-4 on penalties to Sittingbourne after the match finished level at 1-1 as Sittingbourne reached the third round proper of the competition for the first time.  This is believed to be the first time that the teams have met in a competitive fixture.

Sittingbourne play in the South East Division of the Isthmian League, one division below Winchester, but have made an impressive start to their league campaign with 11 wins and 2 draws from their 14 league games with 48 league goals scored and they have already beaten Dover Athletic who are top of the Isthmian Premier Division in both FA Cup and FA Trophy.

Sittingbourne are currently in their 19th consecutive season of Isthmian League football having previously spent a total of 26 years in the Southern League.  They have a good fan base and ought around 120 supporters to the game either in one of two coaches or under their own steam.

Winchester made two changes to the starting line-up from Saturday's win at Frome with Josh McCormick who has served his one-match suspension and featured in Tuesday's Hampshire Senior Cup victory against Eversley and California replacing the suspended Ollie Griggs and Luka Chalwell coming in for George Britton. Harry Nevins, Danny King, Dom Panesar-Dower, Simba Mlambo and Reggie Hodan were the five Winchester substitutes. 

Although Winchester took the lead right at the end of the first half through Luka Chalwell who scored with an excellent lob over Harley Earle in the Sittingbourne goal from a one-on-one situation neither goalkeeper had to make more than routine saves prior to that although half chances were created at both ends. For Winchester Tommy Wright had an effort which did force Earle into action and the Sittingbourne goalkeeper also had to make an interception to cut out an I K Hill cross.  At the other end, Ryan Kingsford volleyed just wide with a powerfully struck effort after being set up by Mitchell May and Henry  Sinai headed just wide from a Troy Howard cross    Some good blocs and interceptions by both defences though helped to keep the shots on target to a minimum in the first half as Winchester went into the half time interval with a 0 lead.

However, the second half was more action-packed.  Early in the game's second period Henry Sinai hit the bar and Sinai forced Luke Cairney to make his first save of note when the Winchester goalkeeper made an excellent save from his header.  At the other end, it was the turn of Winchester to hit the bar with Tommy Wright the player involved.

Luke Cairney then made further good saves from Henry Lukombu and substitute Bagasan Graham and Mitchell May headed just wide.  Winchester though were still defending well for the most part and at times looked dangerous on the break. Just as it looked as though they might hold out Sittingbourne got the equalizer in the 81st minute with Jack Steventon's long throws which were a threat to Winchester all afternoon resulted in Danny King replacing Luka Chalwell to be Winchester's second substitution of the afternoon after Simba Mlambo had replaced Josh McCormick earlier in the game was adjudged to have fouled Troy Howard and Mitchell May converted the resulting penalty.

Soon afterwards Cairney made a further save from May which led to a skirmish which saw Winchester captain Jamie Barron receive a second yellow card and Winchester's Dan Bradshaw and Sittingbourne's Mitchell May both receiving straight red cards.

After this incident, and being a man down, Winchester had to defend well to ensure they did not concede again. A goal line clearance kept out an effort from Troy Howard and Liam Smith hit the post, but after six minutes of extra time played the match finished 1-1 and went to a penalty shootout.

For Winchester, I K Hill, Luke Cairney, Simba Mlambo and Tommy Wright all converted penalties in the shoot out, but Winchester missed their first penalty in the shoot out, while Sittingbourne converted all five of theirs and so goes through to the next round.

Winchester are at home to Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday