Sydenhams Wessex League

Thatcham Town 0 Winchester City 1

A goal from City leading scorer Jamie Musselwhite with his twenty fifth goal of the season, secured three points for City from this top of the table fixture. Musselwhite was not far away from missing the fixture with an injury but played through the pain barrier to cover the whole of the Thatcham pitch in the afternoon. Thatcham joint leading scorer Ian Davies also struggling with an injury only started the game on the bench and was only released into the action with twenty minutes remaining. Liam Green returned to the City line up in place of the injured Christer Warren, new signing Danny Woods starting his City career as a substitute.

City started the game in fine attacking style forcing the home side on the back foot for the opening period. Forcing a series of corner kicks City looked for an early goal whilst Thatcham were looking much more cautious to their approach to the game.

The best opening chance fell on thirteen minutes to City, a Musselwhite strong right wing run and cross falling at the far post for ex Thatcham midfielder Tommy McCormick to blast high over the bar. Nine minutes later a cross from Lloyd Webber sat up just right for Ian Mancey but the strikers header was off target. Thatcham were reduced to breakaways and a minute later Sean Cook curled a twenty yards shot beyond the diving David Hook but just wide of the upright.

City deservedly went ahead on twenty-four minutes. Perseverance by Shaun Dyke on the right hand flank allowed the skilful winger to send over a cross that arrived at the far post where the unmarked Musselwhite prodded home what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Following a clash of heads shortly after, following a Thatcham corner, City’s Green was able to continue but Thatcham lost midfielder Jamie Green with a head injury, which saw a reshuffle to the Thatcham side. Thatcham came more into the game following the incident and created their best two chances, Cook glancing a header wide of the target from a Chris Blackford free kick on thirty two minutes and three minutes later Paul Worsfolds through ball being collected by Marc Green but the firm figure of Hook produced a fine stop from the Thatcham striker to keep his goal in tact.

Marc Green saw another header go wide as the interval approached whilst a dipping thirty yard shot from Adam Campion just cleared the City bar. On the stroke of half time Dyke cut in from the right and sent a vicious shot into the arms of Thatcham keeper Paul Strudley whilst a Mancey header from a McCormick free kick went just wide.

The second period was a more even affair; play switching from end to end. Dyke had an excellent opportunity to increase City’s lead three minutes into the half but Strudley denied the City player. From a McCormick corner, Musselwhite had an effort blocked whilst Webber had a shot parried by Strudley and as Mancey went to pounce he was denied by a last ditch tackle.

Dyke played in Mancey but again the striker was thwarted by Strudley whilst Richard Witt for the home side had a drive saved by Hook. On the hour a cross cum, shot from McCormick on the left wing was tipped over the bar to safety by Strudley. Mancey turned and shot over the bar from the edge of the box from another Dyke free kick then following a mistake in the Thatcham defence Dyke had another goal chance but again saw his effort blocked by the strong Thatcham rearguard.

As the game was entering its final stages McCormick’s cross was flicked on by Matthew Bicknell but Mancey shot wide. From a set play Cook had a shot saved by Hook and Witt also had a header saved by the City keeper. Both Mark Jones and Mat Davies had strong games for City in the centre of their defence and kept a clean sheet for City to edge three points clear at the top of the Sydenhams Wessex League table as they ended Thatcham's unbeaten eleven league game run.

Thatcham : Strudley, McLay, Blackford, Witt, Cook, Allaway, Campion (Melledew 81), Worsfield, Taplin (Davies 71), M Green, J Green (Thomas 28) Unused subs Nurse, Rees

Winchester : Hook, Buckman, Bicknell, Mark Jones, Davies, Green, Dyke, Webber (Woods 81), Mancey, Musselwhite, McCormick Unused subs Kneller, Wakefield, Lang and Chapman