Winchester City proved to be no pushovers against Vanarama South outfit Concord Rangers, but were eventually beaten 3-2 at the Aspect Arena today in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

It was truly a David v Goliath tie as City travelled to Essex to face the Beachboys who sit three leagues above them.

Despite drawing level through hot-shot striker Warren Bentley’s, pictured, superb goal, City were behind 2-1 at the break through Steve Cawley’s double.

Matt Fry, who was at Eastleigh on a temporary deal earlier this season, put the home side further ahead just past the hour, scoring what proved to be the winner.

But with quarter-of-an-hour left Danny Robinson and Tim Cole’s outfit pushed the match to the last as Bentley slotted home from the penalty spot.

While Concord had their fair share of early chances, probably having more clear-cut efforts, Winchester, who reached this stage of the competition for the first time in almost six decades, were chasing every ball and created a few chances of their own.

Bentley was especially energetic and, with strike partner Zach Glasspool capable of holding the ball up against the Beachboys’ physical backline, they were able to get in behind on a few occasion in the opening half hour.

Bentley shot low at Concord stopper Aaron Lennox and was involved in some decent link up play with Mike McEnery and Chris Mason. Glasspool also had a curling effort saved.

At the other end, keeper Jason Collins was on red-hot form. He came out well to smother Joe Gardener’s ball to Lewis Taaffe, whose shot on the stroke of the interval saw the Winch custodian pull off an outstanding reaction save.

Collins was on hand with a few more routine stops, while the Conference South side fired a few efforts well over from midfielder James White and Taaffe.

On 32 minutes, just as Winchester looked more comfortable on the ball, Mason attempted a pass back to his defence just inside Concord territory.

Unfortunately for the centre midfield man, the ball found Cawley instead. With no City defender in sight, he ambitiously attempted a lob over Collins, who was off his line about to charge at the onrushing striker.

It was a superb effort and looped over Collins’s head and into the net.

But it didn’t deflate Winchester, who levelled on 38 minutes when full back Ryan Holloway knocked the ball back into the box from a Mason corner. Bentley, with his back to goal, was alert and flicked a superb volley around his marker, as well as stopper Lennox, and into the bottom corner.

After Mason painfully missed an open goal, Concord broke. As Taaffe enticed stopper Collins out he squared to Cawley, who stabbed into an empty net with seconds left of the half.

Keeper Collins continued his fine performance after the break. He came out well and saved as Taaffe broke through one-on-one and shot. The stopper held well from another thumping effort from the Beachboys no9 on the edge of the box.

At the other end, Bentley remained sharp. He weaved through three defenders before dinking in a cross and another effort saw him dig out a shot while surrounded by a number of the Concord backline.

Just past the hour mark Concord were 3-1 up. Fry knocked into the net after Steve King had thundered a header against the bar.

With 15 minutes left, City gave themselves a lifeline when Bentley was taken down in the box. The striker converted from the spot to set up an intense finale.

Glasspool was played in with seconds left but stopper Lennox was out to block. Such was Concord’s fear of conceding to City, they spent the closing stages time wasting in the corners.