Sydenhams Wessex League

Winchester City 4 Fareham Town 1

In front of the largest Sydenhams Wessex League crowd (181) of the day, City started their league campaign with a healthy victory. Fielding latest signing 25 year old full back Francis Dolan from Ryman League Walton & Hersham, City started the game with seemingly ideas of a high goal tally.

Former Fareham striker Jamie Musselwhite saw a shot saved by visiting keeper Aby Smith in the third minute, two minutes later Musselwhite miscued his shot after being set up by Dolan. As the game opened in at a frantic pace Fareham had a chance immediately after the Musselwhite miscue but James Lacy failed to capitalise on a City defensive error.

Play switched directly back to the Fareham area where Musselwhite with only Smith to beat blazed his chance over the bar to leave the striker pondering on what could have been a hat trick in the opening six minutes. Not to be denied though it was only a further sixty seconds and again Musselwhite was involved in goalscoring action. A free kick from the right by Toby Sumner was met by the head of Musselwhite and City were ahead.

On a sodden August afternoon Farehams swift response was a shot from Lacy that was just over the bar but City were seemingly in no mood to let their lead slip away. On the quarter of an hour Mark Lisk slipped the ball into Ian Mancey, but Manceys shot went wide of the target. Liam Green drilled a low shot from twenty-five yards that saw Smith scurry across his goal to claim the ball safely.

City’s second goal finally arrived on twenty-one minutes. Toby Redwood played the ball out of defence where Mancey struck a sweet half volley from just outside of the area that left Smith rooted to the spot and Mancey wheeled away in celebration.

A cross cum shot from, Louis Savage for Fareham on twenty-eight minutes squirmed out of the reach of City’s keeper David Hook and over the line, but to the relief of the home crowd the effort was disallowed for offside against another Fareham striker. Fareham though were in no mood to be rolled over and put up a spirited display. As the interval approached a fine saving block tackle by City skipper Mark Jones denied a chance for Dean Blake. The visitors pressure finally did pay off with a minute to go to the interval. An excellent strike from thirty five yards by Farehams new signing full back Gavin Jones flew past a crowd of players before nestling in the top corner and Fareham, were back in the game.

There was still time before the interval for Mancey to have an effort saved by Smith, Hook was called into action to stop a chance from Warren Hunt whilst another long range effort by Gavin Jones was only just off target.

The opening period of the second half saw Fareham have the edge of play. Without having threatened the City goal though, City took further advantage with a third goal on sixty-five minutes. Lisks' ball into the path of Mancey saw the striker use his strength to power beyond Daniel Horrell before firing low past Smith.

Blake had another chance for Fareham whilst Smith was out to smother the ball at the feet of Musselwhite as City edged to their first league victory of the season.

With five minutes remaining Tommy McCormick got the wrong side of defender David Birmingham where the Fareham skipper pulled him back. Referee Mr G Masters awarded a spot kick. Sumner’s poor spot kick was pushed away by Smith and the keeper had to readjust himself to stop the follow up by Lisk. A minute later Sumner’s short corner to McCormick, saw the diminutive midfielder play the ball into the box where Mark Jones deftly touched the ball beyond Smith and the three points were safe.

Winchester : Hook, Dolan, Lisk, Jones, Redwood (Austen 62), Lang (McCormick 45), Dean, Sumner, Mancey (Brown 87), Musselwhite, L Green Unused subs Kneller, Taylor

Fareham Town: Smith, Jones, Middleton, Birmingham, Horrell, Watts, Lacy, Wright (Boyle 79), Savage (Edwards 82), Hunt, Blake Unused subs Wood, Pook