Sydenhams Wessex League
B A T Sports 0 Winchester City 1
On the opening day of last season, Winchester City travelled to Thatcham Town, scored a 1-0 victory with a goal from a free kick from Smith. They started this season with a trip to B A T Sports, they scored a 1-0 victory with a goal from a free kick from Smith. The Smiths may be different but City will be hoping that the season continues in the same vein as last.
One of City’s four league defeats last season was at B A T Sports. They had created on Friday evening enough chances to have finished the game before causing their supporters a few anxious moments in the second half where B A T Sports looked as though they might have grabbed an equaliser.
A cautious start by both sides saw several challenges that showed the season for proper had arrived and either side gave no quarter. The first chance arrived on twelve minutes Ian Mancey headed back Matt Bicknells cross but Jamie Laidlaw saw his shot saved by home goalkeeper Gareth Barfoot who had an excellent match.
City created two quick fire openings soon after, Mark Smith had a shot saved and Barfoot also denied Mancey. With eighteen minutes played Laidlaw was fouled on the edge of the B A T Sports area, Mark Smith stepped up to stroke a crisply taken free kick into the corner of the net and put City ahead for what proved to be the only goal of the game.
City’s should have increased their advantage. Lloyd Webbers cross was met by Smith arriving late into the area where his shot was pushed away by Barfoot, Barfoot then recovered on time to block Laidlaws follow up effort.
At the start of the second period, Laidlaw cushioned a header just over the bar following a right wing cross. At the other end of the park, B A T were showing that it was not going all to be one way traffic, Paul West conjured himself an opening but his shot was saved by Simon Arthur.
Mark Smith broke through the B A T back line on sixty seven minutes then produced an exquisite drop shot that just clipped the top of the bar. Five minutes later Mark Blake was holding his head in anguish as his effort from a Liam Green corner was pushed away by Barfoot.
B A T Sports substitute Scott Metcalf created himself an opening soon after but shot wide of the target as B A T Sports kept their battling display going right to the end of the game. More scares for City in the final minutes when Metcalf shot across the face of the goal and Dave Roberts just failed to connect with a gaping net in front of him.
Overall though City deserved their opening victory of the league season.
B A T Sports : Barfoot, Kenna, Elliott (D Platt) (Jenvey), Osman, Marden, Roden, Chance, Masters, Roberts (Metcalf), Gregory, West
City : Arthur, Rogers, Bicknell, Hall, Jones, Blake, Webber, Smith, Mancey (Musselwhite 75), Laidlaw, L Green Unused subs Brewster and Goss
B A T Sports 0 Winchester City 1
On the opening day of last season, Winchester City travelled to Thatcham Town, scored a 1-0 victory with a goal from a free kick from Smith. They started this season with a trip to B A T Sports, they scored a 1-0 victory with a goal from a free kick from Smith. The Smiths may be different but City will be hoping that the season continues in the same vein as last.
One of City’s four league defeats last season was at B A T Sports. They had created on Friday evening enough chances to have finished the game before causing their supporters a few anxious moments in the second half where B A T Sports looked as though they might have grabbed an equaliser.
A cautious start by both sides saw several challenges that showed the season for proper had arrived and either side gave no quarter. The first chance arrived on twelve minutes Ian Mancey headed back Matt Bicknells cross but Jamie Laidlaw saw his shot saved by home goalkeeper Gareth Barfoot who had an excellent match.
City created two quick fire openings soon after, Mark Smith had a shot saved and Barfoot also denied Mancey. With eighteen minutes played Laidlaw was fouled on the edge of the B A T Sports area, Mark Smith stepped up to stroke a crisply taken free kick into the corner of the net and put City ahead for what proved to be the only goal of the game.
City’s should have increased their advantage. Lloyd Webbers cross was met by Smith arriving late into the area where his shot was pushed away by Barfoot, Barfoot then recovered on time to block Laidlaws follow up effort.
At the start of the second period, Laidlaw cushioned a header just over the bar following a right wing cross. At the other end of the park, B A T were showing that it was not going all to be one way traffic, Paul West conjured himself an opening but his shot was saved by Simon Arthur.
Mark Smith broke through the B A T back line on sixty seven minutes then produced an exquisite drop shot that just clipped the top of the bar. Five minutes later Mark Blake was holding his head in anguish as his effort from a Liam Green corner was pushed away by Barfoot.
B A T Sports substitute Scott Metcalf created himself an opening soon after but shot wide of the target as B A T Sports kept their battling display going right to the end of the game. More scares for City in the final minutes when Metcalf shot across the face of the goal and Dave Roberts just failed to connect with a gaping net in front of him.
Overall though City deserved their opening victory of the league season.
B A T Sports : Barfoot, Kenna, Elliott (D Platt) (Jenvey), Osman, Marden, Roden, Chance, Masters, Roberts (Metcalf), Gregory, West
City : Arthur, Rogers, Bicknell, Hall, Jones, Blake, Webber, Smith, Mancey (Musselwhite 75), Laidlaw, L Green Unused subs Brewster and Goss
Document last updated: 08/06/2007
