City have only themselves to blame as Vase dreams are shattered

With the boost of top scorer Andrew Forbes being passed fit to play, City were confident of progressing to the semi-finals of the competition. But a Steve Beeks own goal and the needless sending off of both Ian Mancey and Mark Blake was enough to put the home side through, with City failing to score for the first time this season. The game turned on the stroke of half-time, when Mancey was dismissed for appearing to head-butt an Oadby defender. With the ball deep in City's half, Steve Julian fell to the ground clutching his head, referee Mr Whitestone deemed it violent conduct, and gave Mancey his marching orders. Up until that moment, City had controlled proceedings and looked the most likely to open the scoring. On 6 minutes, Steve Waite's cross from the left eventually fell to the feet of Forbes, whose snap shot was saved by the feet of Czech keeper Pavol Maruna. Only five minutes later, the giant Czech stopper was again called into action as he beat away Lloyd Webber's fierce half volley. Despite a rather bumpy, uneven surface City played some attractive football and began to take control. They were cheered on by more than 300 supporters who'd made the trip by coach, car or even double decker bus (!) Webber was inspirational in the centre of midfield and his strong run and cross, on 26 minutes, was met by Forbes, whose shot curled away from the left-hand post. Oadby's only real chance came soon after when Brennan's half-volley from the edge of the area went inches over Darren Crowfoot's crossbar. The visitors were reduced to ten men in the 45th minute as Mancey, after an earlier tussle with Oadby defender Tyrone Mintus, was sent off for something rather more sinister. This time, he seemed to follow the head-butt with a punch into his opponent's stomach. This seemed to spur on the home side, who started the second half brightly. Crowfoot had to be at his best as he beat away a testing cross early on. Moments later defender Stewart Lang matched this effort with an excellent interception as Curtis Warner looked set to score. Beeks had to head bravely away from Steve Fenton's menacing cross on 57 minutes, but his luck was to run out ten minutes later. After Danny Poultney's flick, Brennan crossed from the right and the luckless Beeks headed past his own keeper from six yards. City made a double substitution and poured forward in search of an equaliser. With eight minutes remaining, Gary Green shot straight at keeper Maruna before City's chances took another blow five minutes later. Blake's crude late challenge from behind on Warner sparked a confrontation as both teams had to pull players away. With the guidance of his assistant, referee Whitestone sent off the former Saints and Shrewsbury defender as well as Oadby's Ross Blankley for his retaliation to the challenge. With the game reduced to nine against ten, City's fans found new belief and spurred their team forward. They thought the chance had come in the 89th minute when Forbes fired goalwards, only for Maruna to deny him with a superb stretching save. Deep into injury time, Forbes tried a weaving solo run, but that was to no avail as the referee blew the whistle and sent the home side through to the semi-finals. Suspensions in sight Manager Neil Hards was disappointed with the outcome, writes Ian Henderson. "Oadby were the poorest team we've played in this competition and despite having ten men we had the best chances," he said. "But it was not to be, so now we have to focus on winning the league and other competitions. At least the cup run has put the club on the football map after so many years." Of the sendings-off, he commented: "Ian Mancey was completely distraught about what he did - it was completely out of character for him. "Much the same can be said for Mark, who knows that our last chance went when he was sent off." City now face the prospect of Mancey receiving a lengthy suspension, while Blake will also miss a number of matches. The squad will be fully tested for the remainder of a busy season. Tomorrow (8th) Ringwood visit the City ground in a league fixture, while a meeting with Vospers in the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup will be at stake next Wednesday when they take on Bishop's Waltham in the semis at Hamble (7.30 pm). l City continued their march towards the Hampshire Premier title with a 2-1 win over Horndean on Tuesday night. Skipper Danny Smith gave them the lead with a first minute free-kick, But the visitors proved a tough nut to crack and equalised seven minutes after half-time. Just when it seemed that City would have to settle for a point, Forbes popped up to grab a late winner.