WINCHESTER City banged in another five home goals to book their passage to Swindon Supermarine in the FA Cup first qualifying round on Saturday week.

But manager Paul Masters felt his side left plenty in the locker during an unremarkable 5-1 defeat of lower league Wincanton Town.

Satisfied with the win, but not so thrilled with the performance, Masters said: “We won it without getting out of second gear.

“It was the sort of game I don’t want to look into too much. We won it and we move on.”

The afternoon started with a minute’s silence for the victims of the Shoreham air show disaster – a gesture made particularly poignant by the fact it was conducted by the same referee, Nigel Baker of Lancing, who had been due officiate Worthing United’s match against Loxwood on the day of the tragedy.

After a quiet opening by City, Geoff Dunn lifted the mood with a sweet 12th-minute chip over ’keeper Greg Taylor, rounding off some exquisite one-touch passing by the home side.

Bentley hit the post and shot inches wide of the same upright before City’s young goalkeeper Brendon Norris snuffed out a potential equaliser, getting down sharply to smother Matt White’s low drive after clever play by Jamie Jordan on Wincanton’s left.

Dunn looped another effort onto the top netting before, with half-time imminent, City got a crucial second when a corner was returned to the taker, Danny King, who crossed for defender Rob Flooks to head home.

Zach Glasspool added his name to the scoresheet with a gift finish on 48 minutes after Matt Benham’s blocked shot had sparked pin-ball in the Wincanton box.

Top scorer Bentley – back after a two-game holiday absence – then struck the woodwork again before Glasspool’s strong hold-up play invited Jamie Barron to stroke home City’s 71st-minute fourth.

Wincanton had barely absorbed that blow when King crossed for Flooks to head back across the area where Bentley was waiting to glance in his tenth goal of the season.

The scoreline was a tad harsh on the Toolstation Western Division One visitors who, having already had a goal disallowed for offside, finally got a souvenir to take back to Somerset when Jordan set up White for a smart finish.

Stressing the importance of Norris’s first-half save, City’s assistant boss Paul Wiltshire said: “You felt we were in control, but if Wincanton had got back to 1-1 their tails would have been up.

“It was a bit of strange match, but the performance doesn’t really matter, it’s the result that counts.”

Wiltshire added: “Geoff Dunn’s goal was the best I’ve seen in a long time for one-touch football. Geoff’s had a bit of barren spell on the scoring front and, hopefully, that will boost his confidence. That first goal today summed up what he’s capable of.”

Winchester return to Southern One South & West action tomorrow (Monday, 3pm) at home to an AFC Totton side still smarting from Saturday’s 3-1 FA Cup exit at AFC Portchester.

For Masters, who will welcome back Leigh Mills and Dan Cann but has a doubt over Jake Newton (tight hamstring), it’s a chance to get one over his former club.

He said: “I had a great year at Totton (as first-team coach, 2006/07) when we got the FA Vase final. That set the club up and hopefully they’re rebuilding now.”

Winchester City: Brendon Norris, Jake Newton (Luke Benali, 61), Danny King, Jamie Barron, Jamie Thoroughgood, Rob Flooks, Matt Benham, Micky Hubbard, Zach Glasspool (Harrison Fay, 74), Warren Bentley, Geoff Dunn (Adam Roberts, 67). Sub: (not used) George Short.

Attendance: 136

Referee: Nigel Baker (Lancing)