WINCHESTER City have offset the disappointment of their FA Trophy exit by welcoming Liam Gilbert to the club.

The industrious midfielder joins the Citizens from Sydenhams Premier high-fliers Andover Town, having gleaned previous Evo-Stik South West experience with AFC Totton.

Gilbert’s arrival is well timed after City lost striker Oli Bailey to injury and defender/midfielder Adam Tomasso to a red card during their 3-1 Trophy defeat at league rivals Kidlington yesterday.

City have been excellent on the road this season but, by manager Craig Davis’s admission, this was an off-day.

Neither team got going until the second half and, after City’s Pat Cox had been denied by a smart save from Sam Warrell, it was Kidlington who seized a 54th-minute lead through Lewis Coyle.

Bailey then bowed out injured, but Winchester still managed to draw level when defender Josh Harfield got the final touch amid a goalmouth scramble.

Disappointingly, though, City soon conceded again, stung by substitute Lance Williams. Then after Tomasso had walked for a second bookable offence, Darius Browne crowned Kidlington’s victory in stoppage time.

“It was a funny old game,” said Davis. “The first half was a non-event. We came out second half looking a bit better and we all thought Coxy had scored from probably the best move of the game, but the ’keeper came out of nowhere to save it.

“They went straight up the other end and scored, but we got a deserved equaliser and, at that point, there was only going to be one winner. But they got a second on the breakaway and, for the third, we were chasing the game with ten men after Adam had been sent off by the over-picky referee.

“3-1 flattered them a bit. We didn’t play particularly well, but we didn’t necessarily deserve to lose either.”

Fingers crossed, Bailey’s ankle injury is not as bad as the one that has already ruled him out for a chunk of the season.

However, he must now be touch and go for Wednesday’s Western League 125th anniversary match at Melksham, where he is due to play for an FA XI managed by England C boss Paul Fairclough.

“From a club point of view all I care about is having Oli fit for us next Saturday. But from the lad’s point of view, I hope he’s okay for Wednesday. It’s such an opportunity for him,” said Davis.

Discussing Gilbert’s arrival, the boss added:”Liam’s good on the ball, he’s combative, he’s an organiser and he talks – all things we need.

“He’ll be a big part of what we’re trying to do going forward.”