Sydenhams Wessex League

Winchester City 2 B A T Sports 1

Whilst Winchester City were stuttering to their fourth consecutive single goal Sydenhams Wessex League victory, fellow title challengers Thatcham Town were being defeated at home by Gosport Borough. For City supporters the victory should be taken gratefully and just reflect on the facts that City need five more victories from their seven remaining league matches to clinch the league title.

City should have had this game won by the interval, in the end they ended up indebted to another fine stop from David Hook to make certain of all three points. With Shaun Dyke, Mark Jones and Ian Buckman all injured, there was a slight reshuffle to the City squad again. Lloyd Webber returned after a bout of flu, Christer Warren returned to the side and Richard Mealey was given a chance in the attack with Ian Mancey dropping to the bench.

The early signs for City were good. After seven minutes Mat Jones headed a Liam Green free kick just wide whilst a minute later another Green free kick Jamie Musselwhite was inches away from connecting from almost a certain goal. Musselwhite was instantly denied again by the diving frame of B A T goalkeeper Louis Doughty at his feet.

It was a good start from City and the early goal they deserved duly arrived after nine minutes. Mat Davies flicked on a Danny Wakefield corner at the near post and Jamie Musselwhite headed home his 30th Wessex League goal of the season.

For some reason the early impetus lost its momentum. On the half hour City should have added their second. Warren’s shot was pushed away by Doughty, only for Mealey to see his header then hit the underside of the bar and fall for Musselwhite whose attempt was blocked by a B A T defender. Still trying to work out hoe they had not added to their score, City were further stunned two minutes later. Former Gosport striker Ryan Lock was firing a shot from the angle of the City box across the face of Hook and into the net for a B A T Sports equaliser.

City created another couple of chances prior to the interval, A Peter Smith cross was pushed out by Doughty falling invitingly for Warren, but the City midfielder took time to steady himself but fired his shot over the bar. Green saw an in swinging corner cleared off the line whilst Doughty saved a Musselwhite shot from the edge of the box. Right on the stroke of half time, Webber and Musselwhite combined only for Musselwhite to drag his shot the wrong side of the upright.

Two minutes into the second half Jones saw his header from a Green corner fall into the midriff of Doughty. Five minutes later Musselwhite broke through into the area but under pressure from a B A T defender shot wide of the target.

B A T Sports were relying on breakaways, but were looking dangerous when they did so. James Thornby broke clear on fifty-five minutes but only managed to shoot straight at Hook. On the hour Musselwhite appeared to have lofted a shot over Doughty but the keeper readjusted himself to produce a one handed save.

On sixty-seven minutes a Matthew Bicknell back pass fell only into the path of Lock but fortunately for City mat Davies was covering for the City skipper. Two minutes later and City managed to score what proved to be the match winner. Wakefield corner to the near post saw Mealey rise to power a header into the top corner for his first goal for City’s first team.

Three minutes following his goal Mealey was almost celebrating again but this time Lee Wood cleared his header off the line. With a quarter f an hour remaining Jones saw another header this time from a Warren corner saved by Doughty. A minute later Webber charged into the box, laid the ball off for Musselwhite but the City top scorer blazed the ball over the bar.

With seven minutes left on the clock, substitute Tom Vavrecka supplied a cross from which Mealeys goalbound header was superbly turned away by Doughty.

There was still time though for City supporters to be holding their breath. In the final minute Louis Pickett was through on goal but City’s Hook raced from his line to be equal to the stop gap strikers attempt and keep City the full three points.

Winchester : Hook, Wakefield, Bicknell, Mat Jones, Davies, Warren, Webber, Smith, Mealey, Musselwhite, Green (Vavrecka 66) Unused subs Mancey, Lang, Tate and Chapman

B A T Sports : Doughty, Wood, Thompson, Stopforth, Pickett, Lowther, Lock (Jones 86), Egerton, Miller, Hayes (Davis 14), Thornby Unused sub Osman