Sydenhams Wessex League

Winchester City 2 Hamworthy United 2

Following an uneventful first half, the second forty-five minutes was excellent entertainment for the neutral fan. City gave a debut to Pete Smith and Danny Wakefield came into the side to replace the suspended Shaun Dyke, whilst Ian Mancey returned from suspension. Hamworthy kept the same side that had won 6-1 at Bemerton the previous Tuesday as they went in search of continuing their run of nine matches unbeaten.

Without doubt the success that Hamworthy have recorded this season is largely to their defensive strengths. On Saturday the United back four line of Brett Williams, Sam Lockyer, Michael Walker and Michael White clearly demonstrated why they have only conceded seventeen goals all season from their twenty-six league games prior to their visit to the Denplan. On Saturday City became one of only four sides that have netted more than one goal against the side in a league match this term. When City did manage to penetrate the stern defence, goalkeeper Nick Hutchings was also in fine form.

The only football chances of the opening half hour saw the dangerous raiding Jamie Moores break clear of the City defence before firing over the bar whilst City’s best effort was a shot from the edge of the box from Lloyd Webber that was collected easily by Hutchings

To keep the crowd alert, assistant referee David Hughes had to be replaced midway through the opening half with an achilles injury. By stander Chris Powell who was due to have refereed the days Andover v Fareham fixture that was postponed owing to a frozen pitch, took over the duties on the line. Camberley based Hughes may be fretting the next time he has Winchester arrive on his fixture list. His previous action with them this season was at Newbury back in October. That day the referee failed to make the game and assistant Hughes took the middle.

On the stroke of half time City went behind. A Hamworthy break on the left flank saw Alan Scott race into the box and his attempted shot was deflected into the air by the lunging Mat Jones. As the ball spiralled into the air, United's Ryan Dovell reacted quickest by jumping for the ball and guiding a header over David Hook for the opening goal of the game.

The second half was a different affair. Before the half started the crowd again were treated to the strange sight of Hamworthy returning to the field in City’s change yellow strip, after playing forty-five minutes the clash of City’s red and Hamworthy's claret obviously causing half time concern meaning the visitors had to change. Hamworthy started on the attack with Moores again racing through but firing straight at Hook.

None minutes into the half and City were back on level terms. Matt Bicknell and Smith worked together on the left side before releasing the ball into the edge of the area where Webber drilled a low shot beyond the reach of Hutchings to allow the midfielder to take the acclaim of the crowd.

Play switched immediately to the opposite end where Hook raced off his line to deny Moores. On the hour and City were in front. Wakefield’s short corner allowed Bicknell to whip a cross into the box where Jamie Musselwhite stooped to head home his thirty second goal of the season.

The City lead lasted two minutes. Hutchings wind assisted long kick from his area fell awkwardly behind the City defence and Moores took control of the ball before running through and shooting low past Hook for the equaliser.

There was a succession of chances for both sides to have claimed a winner. Mancey shot straight into the arms of Hutchings and a cross cum shot from Smith skimmed the top of the cross bar.

In the last ten minutes Moores almost snatched a winner but his swerving dipping shot was tipped away by Hook who also produced another stunning stop to deny John Waldock with a header. For City a John Mulhern cross enabled Mancey to find space for a shot that was saved by the feet of Hutching. With the game in stoppage time Mancey first created himself space and had a shot pushed over the bar by Hutchings and from the resultant Liam Green corner Hutchings produced an excellent stop from a Mancey header.

With all the excitement in the last fifteen minutes there was also concern that another replacement official may have been needed. Referee Chris Brokenshaw had to receive treatment for an injury and another match official from the postponed Andover game, now spectating at City, was warming up ready to take over but Brokenshaw recovered to finish.

Winchester : Hook, Mat Jones, Bicknell, R Lewis, Davies, Smith, Wakefield (Mulhern 71), Webber, Mancey, Musselwhite, Green Unused subs Kneller, Lilley, Edwards and Chapman

Hamworthy : Hutchings, Williams, Lockyer, Walker, White, Edwards, Waldock, Moores, Dovell (Orchard 83), Lucas, Scott Unused subs Clarke, Baguley, Lonsdale