PROMOTION hopefuls Winchester City have completed the signing of striker Craig Feeney following his release from Southern One South & West rivals AFC Totton.

Feeney put pen to paper last night as City booked their place in the Hampshire FA Senior Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Sholing.

With a Red Insure Cup quarter-final place also secured, the Citizens are battling on three fronts heading into the business end of the season, so manager Paul Masters is delighted to welcome Feeney on board.

The former Totton & Eling and Gosport Borough (loan) marksman was Totton’s top scorer last season but was released from contract by the Stags after spending three months travelling in Australia.

Masters, who will draft him straight into his 16 for Saturday’s home game against Yate Town, said: “I’m a lot happier with the squad with Craig Feeney about.

“He’s not going to be match fit, but he’s a young lad and he’s not carrying any weight. He’s trained and looked quite sharp and we’re going need to get games into him quickly. But that shouldn’t be a problem because we’ve got a lot coming up.

“We’ve tried to take the cups seriously and we’re in the semi-finals of one and the quarter-finals of another. It gives the lads something to aim at. There’s nothing worse after Christmas than having nothing to play for.”

Winchester join Havant & Waterlooville and Fleet Town in the last four of the Senior Cup with the other semi-finalist still to be decided.

They survived an early scare against Sholing when Barry Mason missed a penalty.

But, having taken the lead through Matt Benham, they made the game safe when Jamie Barron ran through and finished after 66 minutes.

Both sides hit the woodwork – Byron Mason for Sholing and sub Harlan Basker for City – and Masters was sent from the dugout for a disagreement with the referee over pumping up the spare balls.

Masters said: “We needed a game because we missed another one last Saturday (due to a waterlogged pitch at Tiverton) and it took us half-hour to get going. Sholing were physical and they did cause us problems especially as we were without Leigh Mills, Rob Flooks, Dom Cope and Charlie Smeeton.

“But we got better as the game went on and overran them really.”

All four of Wednesday’s absentees should be back for the weekend, but Adam Tomasso is doubtful after taking a knock and Jamie Thoroughgood is working.

Recent inactivity means City have slipped out of the play-off zone into sixth, but Masters said: “We’ve got games in hand and we fully understand the importance of getting a couple of wins now.

“Like I’ve said to the lads, we’ve got loads to play for.”