Winchester City 1 A F C Totton 1
For City’s second game in forty-eight hours they reverted to the more normal first eleven though still missing Matthew Bicknell and Liam Green with Danny Smith starting on the bench. The tiredness in the legs and thoughts are starting to show with their demanding schedule as they faced A F C Totton for the first time this season.
City went a goal behind on fourteen minutes; Chris Marwood cut inside from the right flank before unleashing an excellent drive that seared into the top of the net. City were struggling to keep to their normal fluent play pattern, midway though the half a chance was presented to Totton striker Dave Egerton but he shot tamely at City goalkeeper Simon Arthur.
As the first half entered its later stages City had more chances a long range Gary Green effort saved by Mark Watson, then a Mark Blake header from a Kevin Brewster cross was saved by Watson also. In the last minute of the half following a Brewster corner David Goss had a perfect header which was cleared off the line by Clive Ventham.
Manager Neil Hards vented his anger at his troops during the half time interval, leaving the changing room long before the rest of the players appeared back out on the field. It was a much better second half performance although still not their normal high qualities.
Andrew Forbes had just seen a header turned away by Watson when he netted the equaliser on fifty-seven minutes. A Shaun Dyke cross, the first and probably only time all afternoon that Dyke was allowed any space, saw Forbes rise high above his defender and head home his seventy second goal of the season.
From that moment on City camped inside the Totton half of the field but a determined Totton with all men back behind the ball limited City to very few clear cut openings. On the hour Gary Green broke towards the area and was sent tumbling just outside the box by Stuart Salter. Salter picked himself up to originally receive a booking, which was reverted to red by referee Mr I Thomson for continued dissent. From the resultant free kick Gary Funnell hit a hard low shot which was saved by Watson.
Lloyd Webber broke through from the middle of the park but shot wide of the target then Danny Smith had a shot saved by Watson the ball spilling out of the goalkeepers hands only for Ian Mancey to hit the ball straight back at Watson. Andy Forbes had another effort saved by Watson.
A long free kick from Smith saw Forbes have another header saved then on the final minute Steve Tate headed a Funnell corner over the bar as City could not break down the packed Totton rearguard. City had to be content with a point and with their only rivals for the title Wimborne Town winning all eyes are set on next Saturday when City travel to Wimborne
City : Arthur, Dyke, Rogers (Tate 83), Redwood (Smith 44), Goss, Blake, Webber, G Green, Mancey, Forbes, Brewster (Funnell 58)
For City’s second game in forty-eight hours they reverted to the more normal first eleven though still missing Matthew Bicknell and Liam Green with Danny Smith starting on the bench. The tiredness in the legs and thoughts are starting to show with their demanding schedule as they faced A F C Totton for the first time this season.
City went a goal behind on fourteen minutes; Chris Marwood cut inside from the right flank before unleashing an excellent drive that seared into the top of the net. City were struggling to keep to their normal fluent play pattern, midway though the half a chance was presented to Totton striker Dave Egerton but he shot tamely at City goalkeeper Simon Arthur.
As the first half entered its later stages City had more chances a long range Gary Green effort saved by Mark Watson, then a Mark Blake header from a Kevin Brewster cross was saved by Watson also. In the last minute of the half following a Brewster corner David Goss had a perfect header which was cleared off the line by Clive Ventham.
Manager Neil Hards vented his anger at his troops during the half time interval, leaving the changing room long before the rest of the players appeared back out on the field. It was a much better second half performance although still not their normal high qualities.
Andrew Forbes had just seen a header turned away by Watson when he netted the equaliser on fifty-seven minutes. A Shaun Dyke cross, the first and probably only time all afternoon that Dyke was allowed any space, saw Forbes rise high above his defender and head home his seventy second goal of the season.
From that moment on City camped inside the Totton half of the field but a determined Totton with all men back behind the ball limited City to very few clear cut openings. On the hour Gary Green broke towards the area and was sent tumbling just outside the box by Stuart Salter. Salter picked himself up to originally receive a booking, which was reverted to red by referee Mr I Thomson for continued dissent. From the resultant free kick Gary Funnell hit a hard low shot which was saved by Watson.
Lloyd Webber broke through from the middle of the park but shot wide of the target then Danny Smith had a shot saved by Watson the ball spilling out of the goalkeepers hands only for Ian Mancey to hit the ball straight back at Watson. Andy Forbes had another effort saved by Watson.
A long free kick from Smith saw Forbes have another header saved then on the final minute Steve Tate headed a Funnell corner over the bar as City could not break down the packed Totton rearguard. City had to be content with a point and with their only rivals for the title Wimborne Town winning all eyes are set on next Saturday when City travel to Wimborne
City : Arthur, Dyke, Rogers (Tate 83), Redwood (Smith 44), Goss, Blake, Webber, G Green, Mancey, Forbes, Brewster (Funnell 58)
Document last updated: 07/06/2007
