WEMBLEY DREAM OVER FOR WINDSOR

Windsor are out of the FA Vase this season after a 2-0 quarter-finals defeat away at Stockton Town on Saturday.

Windsor had overcome adversity more than once to reach the last eight of the national competition but, in truth, never really got going at Bishopton Road West.

The visitors were unfortunate not to take the lead inside the first 10 minutes when captain Keiran Knight crossed from the right wing to Matty Woods, whose close-range shot was blocked on the goalline by a covering Stockton defender.

The tie attracted a 1,200-plus crowd, of which around 100 were Windsor supporters, and the home following were delighted when Stockton broke the deadlock on 28 minutes.

Windsor failed to deal with a corner into the box and the ball fell loose to captain Tom Coulthard, who drilled into the net from close range.

Northern League Division One club Stockton doubled their lead four minutes before the break. James Ward whipped in a cross from the left wing to the back post where Jamie Owens was left un-marked and the striker headed low past keeper Hugo Sobte.

Windsor huffed and puffed after the break without forcing Stockton stopper Michael Arthur into a save. Substitute Riccardo Cannon poked over the bar after good link-up play with Nadir Shafi, while Jack Denton missed the target with a left-foot shot from the edge of the box.

Windsor manager Mick Woodham told the Observer: "It's a tough one to take but we can't have too many complaints. Parts of our game went missing today, a bit of conviction at times, quality and penetration.

"We didn't take our chances when they came along particularly in the first-half whereas Stockton did.

"When the came got a bit stretched in the second-half it could have been a different scoreline, although we were riding our luck trying to find out way through.

"It was not our day so good luck to Stockton. We will be a little disappointed with how we've gone out. When we look back, we will be a little sad how we have excited it.

"We have not performed for 90 minutes. We got the ball down and created this and that but we didn't carry a threat for long enough and ended up with nothing."