Winchester City 3 Portland United 0
With a side showing nine changes from the one that had beaten Christchurch forty eight hours earlier, City finally scored a victory over a Portland side that had arrived late at the City ground owing to the bank holiday traffic leaving the South Coast.
City struggled to find much cohesion in their play but went ahead on thirteen minutes when the Portland defence only half cleared an Adam Rogers cross and Steve Tate drilled a low shot into the net from just inside the area.
Two of City’s recent acquisitions linked up together on the half hour with Gary Funnells throw into Jamie Laidlaw allowed the striker to find space before lifting a shot just over the top of the Portland bar. Portland were causing concerns for the City defence, home goalkeeper Ollie Rastall saving a header from Andy Turrell.
City opened the second half slightly brighter Laidlaw heading over a cross from Kevin Brewster early on, but Portland sticking to their task had the City defence in array several times. Warren White had a shot saved by Rastall, Darren Whyton had an effort cleared off the line then Andy Perkins turned a free kick just wide of the post.
City nerves were settled with a quarter of an hour to go. Steve Waite provided a cross for Laidlaw to rise and flick a header past Portland goalkeeper Paul Gadsby to give City a two goal cushion and his first goal for City. Three minutes later Laidlaw controlled a through ball just inside the area and lofted a shot over the top of Gadsby into the net for his second goal in three minutes.
Ian Mancey almost netted in the final stages placing a shot wide of the post with only the keeper to beat. But City were content with three points that put them to the top of the table and guarantee them at least a runners up spot in their first season in Wessex League football
City : Rastall, Rogers, Funnell (Dean 73), Hall, Lang, Waite, Brewster, G Green (Webber 45), Tate (Mancey 79), Laidlaw, Smith
With a side showing nine changes from the one that had beaten Christchurch forty eight hours earlier, City finally scored a victory over a Portland side that had arrived late at the City ground owing to the bank holiday traffic leaving the South Coast.
City struggled to find much cohesion in their play but went ahead on thirteen minutes when the Portland defence only half cleared an Adam Rogers cross and Steve Tate drilled a low shot into the net from just inside the area.
Two of City’s recent acquisitions linked up together on the half hour with Gary Funnells throw into Jamie Laidlaw allowed the striker to find space before lifting a shot just over the top of the Portland bar. Portland were causing concerns for the City defence, home goalkeeper Ollie Rastall saving a header from Andy Turrell.
City opened the second half slightly brighter Laidlaw heading over a cross from Kevin Brewster early on, but Portland sticking to their task had the City defence in array several times. Warren White had a shot saved by Rastall, Darren Whyton had an effort cleared off the line then Andy Perkins turned a free kick just wide of the post.
City nerves were settled with a quarter of an hour to go. Steve Waite provided a cross for Laidlaw to rise and flick a header past Portland goalkeeper Paul Gadsby to give City a two goal cushion and his first goal for City. Three minutes later Laidlaw controlled a through ball just inside the area and lofted a shot over the top of Gadsby into the net for his second goal in three minutes.
Ian Mancey almost netted in the final stages placing a shot wide of the post with only the keeper to beat. But City were content with three points that put them to the top of the table and guarantee them at least a runners up spot in their first season in Wessex League football
City : Rastall, Rogers, Funnell (Dean 73), Hall, Lang, Waite, Brewster, G Green (Webber 45), Tate (Mancey 79), Laidlaw, Smith
Document last updated: 07/06/2007
