MIDFIELDER Mark Smith was re-named 'Marco' last night after his wonder goal inspired Wessex League Winchester City to a shock 2-1 victory over Aldershot Town in the Hampshire Senior Cup final.

Returning to AFC Bournemouth, where he began his career, Smith got possession close to the right by-line, turned and unleashed an unbelievable shot from the tightest of angles that flew rapier-like into the far, top corner.

"We're calling him Marco Smith now because it was just like Van Basten's goal against Russia in the 1988 European Championship finals," laughed manager Neil Hards, lapping up Winchester's first county cup success since 1931.

With Hards's opposite number Terry Brown casting a wary eye towards Monday's Conference play-offs, Aldershot - HSC winners for four of the last six years - had hoped to keep their star names under wraps.

But Winchester worried Brown to such an extent that he rolled out three of his big guns once man-of-the-match Jamie Musselwhite had headed City in front from Matt Bicknell's 55th-minute cross.

Yet even with Darren Barnard and Nick Crittenden - both ex-Chelsea - and in-form striker Tim Sills on the park, Shots looked nowhere as dangerous as in the opening 15 minutes when they had threatened to blow Winchester away.

When Tarkan Mustafa cut the ball back from the by-line for Jon Challinor to smash the cup favourites into a ninth-minute lead, Hards admitted he feared the worst against a team of full-time professionals.

"It was like chasing a load of whippets," he said. "They were as quick as lightning. But once we got the ball down and got our passing game going, they were surprised by the quality of our football. We raised our game to meet their standards.

"I know Aldershot have got bigger things to think about and I hope they achieve their ambition of getting into the Football League, but our players deserve all the praise that's coming to them tonight.

"Although we were hanging on a bit in the last 15 minutes when Alan Walker-Harris made a couple of good saves, we matched their fitness for most of the game and had the better chances."

Musselwhite almost equalised on 17 minutes when he beat the keeper to Ian Buckman's right-wing cross, but looped his header just over. Then, after Smith had worked his Van Basten magic, he cut a good ball back for Ian Mancey whose shot struck the bar.

Mancey and Jamie Laidlaw both spurned chances at the start of the second half before Musselwhite deservedly put City ahead.

Four minutes later, Aldershot's Scott Rendell buried the loose ball after Walker-Harris had fumbled Challinor's shot, but the linesman flagged for offside.

"It was a poor display by us, but don't let that detract from Winchester, who were the better side," said Brown. "Their six (Smith) and ten (Laidlaw) ran the show."

For Hards, who will be leaving Winchester at the end of the season, it was his seventh trophy in two-and-a-half glittering seasons in charge.

He hopes to make that eight on Saturday by retaining the Wessex League title, but City - home to Brockenhurst - must rely on leaders Lymington & New Milton dropping points against Gosport at Fawcett's Field.

Winchester City: Alan Walker-Harris, Ian Buckman, Matt Bicknell, Mark Jones, Jamie Austen, Mark Smith, Lloyd Webber, Jamie Musselwhite (Adam Rogers, 90), Ian Mancey, Jamie Laidlaw, Liam Green. Subs: (not used) Ben Kneller, Dan Wakefield, Wayne Smith, Tommy Taylor.

Aldershot Town: Ben Lauder-Dykes, Tarkan Mustafa, Jason Short (Darren Barnard, 72), Dave Lee, Ray Warburton, Will Antwi, Ty Smith, Jon Challinor, Scott Rendell (Tim Sills, 66), Jamie Slabber (Nick Crittenden, 65), Dwain Clarke. Subs: (not used) Nikki Bull, Chris Giles.

Referee: Lee Probert (Bristol)

Attendance: 1,896.