Sydenhams Wessex League

A F C Newbury 1 Winchester City 2

City eventually scraped three points from a match that they should have comfortably won b y the interval. Giving a debut to new signing Mat Davies from Windsor & Eton, City plugged away at the decidedly rocky Newbury defence from the first minute.

There were problems before the match had even started with the appointed referee having failed to arrive at the venue, this meant a quick promotion from the line for Frimley based David Hughes and the versatile City man Kevin Dixon being called in as a late replacement assistant.

Davies early touch released Shaun Dyke for a right wing foray, his cross ended with the fit again Ian Mancey digging the ball out of the rutted surface before his effort was saved by Terry Burton. The conditions were poor for either side to play controlled football on but quick early chances continued to flow for City, another Dyke cross saw a diving Christer Warren header just wide of the post. An opening ten minutes of pressure almost brought rewards when another Dyke delivery across the face of goal with Mark Jones millimetres away from a final touch. City then lost defender Mat Jones with the recurrence of a groin injury being replaced by fellow defender Stewart Lang.

With twenty minutes played, Dyke again the provider, his cross flicked on by Warren only for Mancey to see his volley on goal tipped away by Burton. A minute later though and City were ahead. Mark Jones high ball out of defence was flicked on by Mancey and Warren took the ball under control before turning and shooting into the corner of the net for his fourth goal in a City shirt.

The home side including the former Portsmouth and Aston Villa striker now player manager Guy Whittingham, were being dragged all over the place. A quick breakaway by the home side on the half hour saw a long range effort from Jake Morgan fly just over the bar as they sounded City out that they were not out of the game. Further chances fell to City before the interval Warren created an opening for Liam Green but his shot was blocked by a Newbury defensive body and Tommy McCormick who ran tirelessly all afternoon saw a shot smothered safely by Burton.

The second half seemed to start in the same mould, only two minutes in and Dyke skipped past three defenders before the laying the ball off for Warren but his shot was saved by Burton. Then from nowhere Newbury netted an equaliser. Morgan received the ball on his chest before turning and firing an angled drive over the top of Hook and dropping into the back of the net to really stun the City side.

For so long in the driving seat City were starting to look slightly vulnerable. McCormick had a drive parried by Burton, the ball being collected by Mancey who took the ball round the keeper before squaring for Warren but a defender blocked his effort.

City found themselves back in front on the hour. McCormick’s prodded cross into the area saw Liam Green head goalwards where Burton got himself in a muddle with his arms and the ball fell over the line for Green to wheel away in delight with a rare header to his name. Burton was soon replaced by substitute goalkeeper Richard Henson.

Newbury went in search of their second equaliser, Peter Tagg saw a header from a free kick saved by ex Newbury goalkeeper David Hook but it was still City who had the better chances. Another Dyke cross fell for the head of McCormick but just wide, Mancey then made himself space before firing across the face of goal and another Dyke shot was saved by Henson.

With time running out Dyke had another shot saved by Henson following McCormick’s cross-field pass, before Dyke was replaced by Ben Thomson. In the last minute substitute Ben Kneller turned Tagg and his pace took him clear of the home defence, Kneller checked and laid the ball of for Warren who in turn laid in ton the path of McCormick but a woeful finish again left the Newbury goal in tact.

Jamie Musselwhite sat the game out through suspension whilst fellow striker Mark Lilley was sat on the sidelines.

A F C Newbury : Burton (Henson 65), Taylor, Hearn, Whittingham (Thorpe 45), Tagg, Willoughby, Matthews (Spencer 83), Morgan, Newman, Strong, Prior

Winchester : Hook, Buckman, Bicknell, Mark Jones, Mat Jones (Lang 13), Davies, Dyke (Thomson 84), McCormick, Mancey (Kneller 88), Warren, L Green Unused sub Wakefield, Zawadski