INJURY HIT CHICHESTER KNOCKED OUT OF FA CUP

 
    Callum Cutler in action against Totton (picture Bill Shimmin)

Injury-hit Chichester were eliminated from the FA Cup courtesy of a hat-trick from Totton striker Nathaniel Sherborne on Saturday.

City were missing key players Darren Hickman, Aiden Bryan and James Temple through injury, and their absence was probably a deciding factor in a very closely-fought contest against the ambitious Southern League visitors.

Totton, who included former Bognor players Carl Pettefer and Nathan Lynch in their side, have won the Wessex League and reached the final of the FA Vase in recent years, but were not at their best in difficult windy conditions at Oaklands Park.

With only 9 minutes played, Chichester took the lead when James Searle was presented with a chance and the ex-Fareham player produced a low drive to strike his fifth goal in six games this season.

But just 8 minutes later Totton were level when Sherborne robbed defender James Jack to slot in the equaliser.

Immediately after the interval the New Forest side took the lead when keeper Matt Short, usually so reliable, made a horrendous error by fumbling a backpass and allowing Sherborne to casually walk the ball into an open net.

The outcome was put beyond all doubt on 61 minutes when Sherborne claimed his third with a cracking volley, following an attempt by the City defence to clear a corner.

City’s leading scorer Ben Vassallo, without strike partner Temple to hold the ball up for him, was tightly marked throughout and was seldom given sight of goal.

Report written by Chester Browton