Dyke wins Vase for Winchester

Winchester City 2 AFC Sudbury

The former Reading youngster Andy Forbes struck the 76th goal of his phenomenal season to lead Winchester City to victory in the FA Vase final in Birmingham yesterday.

The former Reading youngster Andy Forbes struck the 76th goal of his phenomenal season to lead Winchester City to victory in the FA Vase final in Birmingham yesterday.

The 22-year-old, who shared seven goals with Ian Mancey in the two legs of the semi-final, played a one-two with his strike partner before opening the scoring in the 19th minute.

The Wessex League double winners, playing in the competition for only the second time, ensured Sudbury were beaten finalists for the second year running with a second goal 13 minutes from time. The captain, Danny Smith, was held back in the area - an offence that earned substitute Neil Calver a red card - and man-of-the-match Sean Dyke converted the penalty.

Sudbury, Eastern Counties Premier League winners for the last four years, hit the post through Gary Bennett late on but could have been out of the game by half-time, Mancey having also hit the post, in the opening minutes.

Victory softened the blow of Winchester being refused promotion to the Dr Marten's League on ground considerations. And their manager, Neil Hards, who carries a kangaroo's testicle as a lucky omen, said: "Tomorrow, we go up ladders again and on to scaffolding boards. Today is fairy-tale stuff.''

Winchester City (3-5-2): Arthur; Goss, Blake, Redwood; Dyke (Tate, 83), Webber, Gary Green, Smith (Liam Green, 89), Bicknell; Forbes (Rogers, 69), Mancey. Substitutes not used: Rastall (gk), Lang.

AFC Sudbury (3-5-2): Greygoose; Girling, Tracey, Wardley; Head, Hyde (Calver, 57), Norfolk, Owen (Banya, 61), Betson (Francis, 77); Bennett, Claydon. Substitutes not used: Nower (gk), Rayner.

Referee: P Crossley (Kent).

Attendance: 5,080.