WHITCHURCH United set up a showdown with Winchester City after 4-1 home rule over Overton in the semi-finals ot the North Hants Senior Cup.

The visitors, who play two levels below their Sydenhams Premier hosts, got off to the worst possible start, conceding a soft goal after just three minutes.

Danny Phillips cut in from the right and though his shot looked to lack power it was fumbled and Matt Austin prodded the loose ball into the net.

Keeper Sean O’Brien atoned for his error by blocking a Tom Lockyer effort at close range with Jamie Mansell firing the rebound across the face of goal then a Mansell through ball split the defence but O’Brien again saved his side, beating away Austin’s drive.

As the home side continued to press forward Phillips was stopped by weight of numbers and a Jack McCarthy, pictured, free-kick drifted just the wrong side of the post.

A break on the Overton left foundered when full back Laith Aldoori’s cross was overhit before the home side extended their lead just before the half hour with a well made and well taken goal.

Phillips, Lockyer and Mansell were all involved in the build-up before Austin’s fierce drive beat O’Brien from 15 yards.

Brad Snelling took another Aldoori cross off Chris Lavisher’s head but the half finished with Whitchurch still dominating possession as McCarthy drew a close range save from O’Brien, a Josh Harfield free-kick was cleared off the line and the last kick of the half saw an Austin lob land on the top of the net.

The second half started with a somewhat rustic challenge on Harfield by Ben Dibbern that earned the full back a caution before O’Brien held on to a Harfield cross and then went down bravely at Austin’s feet after his defence failed to deal with a long clearance.

Mansell gave way to Steve Allen and after Austin failed to control a Phillips cross Overton, now enjoying more of the game, reduced the deficit with a stunning drive from Luke Neller that gave Snelling no chance and went in off the underside of the bar.

Sadly for the blue shirted visitors they were quickly two goals behind again before they could build on their goal as McCarthy, on the right, produced the sort of cross strikers dream of, and Lockyer’s header left the unfortunate O’Brien flat-footed in the middle of his six yard box.

The same player then saw a shot deflected for a corner from which Allen was wide, before Whitchurch sealed their win as the game moved into stoppage time.

The visiting defence froze as Allen’s free-kick came in from the right and Harfield, completely unchallenged, found the top corner with his header.

So Whitchurch proceed to the final, but Overton can be pleased with their display and showed the good standard of the Hampshire Premier League.