Winchester City 3 Brockenhurst 1
There was little evidence of the flowing Winchester City that has been apparent over the past few weeks, as they scraped through to a victory over Brockenhurst thanks to Andrew Forbes’ eighth hat trick of the season enabling City to record their thirteenth consecutive victory.
Visiting Brockenhurst facing City for the third time in six weeks battled throughout the game and very nearly snatched a point from this fixture. City opened brightly enough, Forbes inside twenty seconds almost out the home side ahead but was denied by a fine stop by visiting keeper Iain Brunnschweiler. With six minutes played City were in front. Forbes the marksman, collecting a left wing cross from the fit again Matthew Bicknell and turned the ball past Brunnschweiler.
Adam Rogers had a shot saved by the keeper two minutes later and with quarter of an hour played, Forbes was the provider, Lloyd Webber allowed the all to run but again a Rogers shot was stopped by the Brockenhurst custodian.
Brockenhurst tracked City all the time and were starting to create openings of their own. Mike Harris shot tamely wide when well placed and the same fate befell Alan Wright when inside the area. For City Danny Smith headed just wide from a free kick and on the half-hour Forbes headed over from a Smith corner. Smith went close again following a Shaun Dyke cross. Webber, celebrating his 100th City appearance against one of his former clubs and being in control of the skippers armband for the afternoon, thundered a shot against the underside of the bar. The ball fell for Rogers who with the goal at his mercy had no power in his shot and Brunnschweiler made up his ground to gather the ball.
With two minute to go to the interval City did add their second. Dyke again with his excellent wing play, produced a right wing far post cross where Forbes rose unmarked to head home.
Brockenhurst continued with their work rate in the second period and reduced the arrears with a spectacular strike from 16-year-old striker Dan Marks. His thirty five-yard shot dipped under the bar with Simon Arthur well beaten and Brockenhurst were well and truly back into the game.
City had a chance to restore their two-goal advantage. From a Smith free kick Toby Redwood hooked his shot wide of the target before Marks very nearly grabbed an equaliser with nineteen minutes remaining, this time producing a shot from the edge of the box that struck the top of the bar.
Forbes turned and hit a shot over the bar before City finally ended their supporters nerves with a goal six minutes from time. Again Dyke the provider, his low cross from the right being turned home by Forbes for his sixty second goal of the season.
City : Arthur, Dyke, Bicknell, Redwood, Goss (Hall 27), Blake, Webber, G Green, Rogers (Tate 45), Forbes, Smith Unused sub Moss
There was little evidence of the flowing Winchester City that has been apparent over the past few weeks, as they scraped through to a victory over Brockenhurst thanks to Andrew Forbes’ eighth hat trick of the season enabling City to record their thirteenth consecutive victory.
Visiting Brockenhurst facing City for the third time in six weeks battled throughout the game and very nearly snatched a point from this fixture. City opened brightly enough, Forbes inside twenty seconds almost out the home side ahead but was denied by a fine stop by visiting keeper Iain Brunnschweiler. With six minutes played City were in front. Forbes the marksman, collecting a left wing cross from the fit again Matthew Bicknell and turned the ball past Brunnschweiler.
Adam Rogers had a shot saved by the keeper two minutes later and with quarter of an hour played, Forbes was the provider, Lloyd Webber allowed the all to run but again a Rogers shot was stopped by the Brockenhurst custodian.
Brockenhurst tracked City all the time and were starting to create openings of their own. Mike Harris shot tamely wide when well placed and the same fate befell Alan Wright when inside the area. For City Danny Smith headed just wide from a free kick and on the half-hour Forbes headed over from a Smith corner. Smith went close again following a Shaun Dyke cross. Webber, celebrating his 100th City appearance against one of his former clubs and being in control of the skippers armband for the afternoon, thundered a shot against the underside of the bar. The ball fell for Rogers who with the goal at his mercy had no power in his shot and Brunnschweiler made up his ground to gather the ball.
With two minute to go to the interval City did add their second. Dyke again with his excellent wing play, produced a right wing far post cross where Forbes rose unmarked to head home.
Brockenhurst continued with their work rate in the second period and reduced the arrears with a spectacular strike from 16-year-old striker Dan Marks. His thirty five-yard shot dipped under the bar with Simon Arthur well beaten and Brockenhurst were well and truly back into the game.
City had a chance to restore their two-goal advantage. From a Smith free kick Toby Redwood hooked his shot wide of the target before Marks very nearly grabbed an equaliser with nineteen minutes remaining, this time producing a shot from the edge of the box that struck the top of the bar.
Forbes turned and hit a shot over the bar before City finally ended their supporters nerves with a goal six minutes from time. Again Dyke the provider, his low cross from the right being turned home by Forbes for his sixty second goal of the season.
City : Arthur, Dyke, Bicknell, Redwood, Goss (Hall 27), Blake, Webber, G Green, Rogers (Tate 45), Forbes, Smith Unused sub Moss
Document last updated: 07/06/2007
