Lymington & New Milton 0 Winchester City 1
A last minute goal by Andrew Forbes his fortieth in total this season earned Winchester City full points from this top of the table clash as it appeared that both sides would have to be content with one point.
City held the upper hand most of the afternoon winning the match on possession stakes. Matthew Bicknells free kick after fifteen minutes was saved by eventual man of the match Lymington and New Milton goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris. A minute later Kevin Brewster fired wide of the target when well placed.
Midway through the opening half a back pass by Jimmy Sheppard put Walker-Harris under pressure and Forbes was alert to take possession but his goalbound shot was cleared away by Lee Hodder. A 20-yard drive from Danny Smith also saw Walker-Harris produce an excellent stop.
Forbes headed a Brewster cross over the bar whilst Ben Thomson had the home sides best chance of the opening half but shot wildly over the bar. Shortly before half time Shaun Dykes cross arrived at the head of Forbes but again the menacing striker as off target.
The second half started in the same sort of vain. Rogers was narrowly off target following a Brewster cross. An attack by Lymington saw the home side appealing for a penalty after the diminutive Peter Smith had wriggled his way into the box and was shrugged aside by David Goss.
It was still City though that were creating the better chances. Dykes cross saw Forbes head wide of the target again. Lymington were starting to retaliate, former City winger John Mulhern played the ball into Pete Smith who shot just over. Trefor Smith set up Thomson but his shot on the run went wide of the target.
With Lymington defending in numbers Mulhern deflected a goalbound attempt that saw Walker-Harris come to the strikers rescue. The introduction of three substitutes for City saw a further range of attacks. Danny Smith pass into the path of Liam Gearing saw the new striker shrug off the challenge of John Bailey before forcing another fingertip save by Walker-Harris.
Mark Blakes header from a Michael Dean cross with thirteen minutes to go saw another fine Walker-Harris save. A determined run from Stewart Lang saw the defender unleash a shot from twenty yards but again Walker Harris was equal to the attempt.
With City having pushed up in an attempt to score the winner spaces were left at the rearguard and Joe McCormack dealt with Kevin James shot from the edge of the box.
Danny Smith was played through by Forbes but Smith shot just wide then in the final minutes Forbes looked on agonisingly as Walker-Harris parried his shot and then saved from point blank range to deny Gearing. Just as it seemed this entertaining affair would end goalless a cross from Bicknell was met by the head of Forbes past the despairing Walker-Harris via a deflection from Darren Curtis and City clinched another three points.
City : McCormack, Dyke, Bicknell, Smith, Goss, Blake, L Green (Webber 66), Lang, Rogers (Gearing 66), Forbes, Brewster (Dean 72)
A last minute goal by Andrew Forbes his fortieth in total this season earned Winchester City full points from this top of the table clash as it appeared that both sides would have to be content with one point.
City held the upper hand most of the afternoon winning the match on possession stakes. Matthew Bicknells free kick after fifteen minutes was saved by eventual man of the match Lymington and New Milton goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris. A minute later Kevin Brewster fired wide of the target when well placed.
Midway through the opening half a back pass by Jimmy Sheppard put Walker-Harris under pressure and Forbes was alert to take possession but his goalbound shot was cleared away by Lee Hodder. A 20-yard drive from Danny Smith also saw Walker-Harris produce an excellent stop.
Forbes headed a Brewster cross over the bar whilst Ben Thomson had the home sides best chance of the opening half but shot wildly over the bar. Shortly before half time Shaun Dykes cross arrived at the head of Forbes but again the menacing striker as off target.
The second half started in the same sort of vain. Rogers was narrowly off target following a Brewster cross. An attack by Lymington saw the home side appealing for a penalty after the diminutive Peter Smith had wriggled his way into the box and was shrugged aside by David Goss.
It was still City though that were creating the better chances. Dykes cross saw Forbes head wide of the target again. Lymington were starting to retaliate, former City winger John Mulhern played the ball into Pete Smith who shot just over. Trefor Smith set up Thomson but his shot on the run went wide of the target.
With Lymington defending in numbers Mulhern deflected a goalbound attempt that saw Walker-Harris come to the strikers rescue. The introduction of three substitutes for City saw a further range of attacks. Danny Smith pass into the path of Liam Gearing saw the new striker shrug off the challenge of John Bailey before forcing another fingertip save by Walker-Harris.
Mark Blakes header from a Michael Dean cross with thirteen minutes to go saw another fine Walker-Harris save. A determined run from Stewart Lang saw the defender unleash a shot from twenty yards but again Walker Harris was equal to the attempt.
With City having pushed up in an attempt to score the winner spaces were left at the rearguard and Joe McCormack dealt with Kevin James shot from the edge of the box.
Danny Smith was played through by Forbes but Smith shot just wide then in the final minutes Forbes looked on agonisingly as Walker-Harris parried his shot and then saved from point blank range to deny Gearing. Just as it seemed this entertaining affair would end goalless a cross from Bicknell was met by the head of Forbes past the despairing Walker-Harris via a deflection from Darren Curtis and City clinched another three points.
City : McCormack, Dyke, Bicknell, Smith, Goss, Blake, L Green (Webber 66), Lang, Rogers (Gearing 66), Forbes, Brewster (Dean 72)
Document last updated: 07/06/2007
