Saturday 8th October
Sydenhams Wessex League
Winchester City 0 A F C Newbury 1
It is not often that the strong City support leave the Denplan ground in a downbeat mood, but following Saturdays dismal performance against A F C Newbury, the largest Wessex League crowd of the day by far saw arguably Winchester City’s worst display for over four years. Manager Steve Moss was so upset with his troops that he left them training on the pitch for almost half an hour following the game and then kept the squad in a locked dressing room for a further hour.
City’s early pressure looked as though they might gain results, Christer Warren playing in a left back role, found himself in the opposing area after only eight minutes on the end of a cross from new signing Ben Thomson, but the header went wide. The visitors used to producing good performances against City over the past few years showed they had their own intentions on winning. A shot from Craig Newman went just over and then David Hook smothered the ball at the feet of the same player to keep his goal in tact against his former club.
City’s performance was dilapidating as the game wore on. Further problems saw them lose Stewart Lang limping away from the action after only twenty-six minutes forcing another reshuffle to the side. Mark Lilley having a rare start in the side was causing the visiting defence problems with his darting runs, but it was Warren again who came closest to opening the scoring with another header from a Thomson corner on the half hour.
Thomson saw a double attempt on goal blocked ands the ball fell invitingly for Lilley but the striker scuffed the ball wide of the goal. As the interval approached Jamie Musselwhite broke through the Newbury defence his shot being pushed away by goalkeeper Terry Burton but Lilley was unable to get proper contact to the follow up. Play switched to the other end where Newbury skipper Peter tag saw a header go just over.
A second half midfield battle ensued, City unable to break down the Newbury rearguard not forcing Burton to make a save in the second period. Newbury had appeals for a penalty turned away on the hour, but with only eight minutes to go City’s were dealt another blow when Newbury scored what proved to be the only goal of the game. A misplaced pass by substitute Toby Sumner fell for Newbury substitute Bully Huntley. Huntley laid the ball off for fellow substitute Ben Matthews who strode on before firing a shot across the face of Hook into the net to the delight of the Newbury bench.
City appeared to be able to offer no resistance, forcing a couple of corners but no direct attempts on goal as they slipped to defeat and a run of three league matches without a victory.
Winchester : Hook, Mat Jones, Warren, Mark Jones, Lang (Austen 26), Thomson, Dyke (Sumner 63), Buckman, Lilley, Musselwhite, L Green Unused subs T King, Walker-Harris
Newbury : Burton, Taylor, Willoughby, Thorp, Tagg, Sackman, Strong (Matthews), Morgan, Newman (Huntley), Banger (Baffour), Prior Unused subs Hearn, Spencer
Winchester City 0 A F C Newbury 1
It is not often that the strong City support leave the Denplan ground in a downbeat mood, but following Saturdays dismal performance against A F C Newbury, the largest Wessex League crowd of the day by far saw arguably Winchester City’s worst display for over four years. Manager Steve Moss was so upset with his troops that he left them training on the pitch for almost half an hour following the game and then kept the squad in a locked dressing room for a further hour.
City’s early pressure looked as though they might gain results, Christer Warren playing in a left back role, found himself in the opposing area after only eight minutes on the end of a cross from new signing Ben Thomson, but the header went wide. The visitors used to producing good performances against City over the past few years showed they had their own intentions on winning. A shot from Craig Newman went just over and then David Hook smothered the ball at the feet of the same player to keep his goal in tact against his former club.
City’s performance was dilapidating as the game wore on. Further problems saw them lose Stewart Lang limping away from the action after only twenty-six minutes forcing another reshuffle to the side. Mark Lilley having a rare start in the side was causing the visiting defence problems with his darting runs, but it was Warren again who came closest to opening the scoring with another header from a Thomson corner on the half hour.
Thomson saw a double attempt on goal blocked ands the ball fell invitingly for Lilley but the striker scuffed the ball wide of the goal. As the interval approached Jamie Musselwhite broke through the Newbury defence his shot being pushed away by goalkeeper Terry Burton but Lilley was unable to get proper contact to the follow up. Play switched to the other end where Newbury skipper Peter tag saw a header go just over.
A second half midfield battle ensued, City unable to break down the Newbury rearguard not forcing Burton to make a save in the second period. Newbury had appeals for a penalty turned away on the hour, but with only eight minutes to go City’s were dealt another blow when Newbury scored what proved to be the only goal of the game. A misplaced pass by substitute Toby Sumner fell for Newbury substitute Bully Huntley. Huntley laid the ball off for fellow substitute Ben Matthews who strode on before firing a shot across the face of Hook into the net to the delight of the Newbury bench.
City appeared to be able to offer no resistance, forcing a couple of corners but no direct attempts on goal as they slipped to defeat and a run of three league matches without a victory.
Winchester : Hook, Mat Jones, Warren, Mark Jones, Lang (Austen 26), Thomson, Dyke (Sumner 63), Buckman, Lilley, Musselwhite, L Green Unused subs T King, Walker-Harris
Newbury : Burton, Taylor, Willoughby, Thorp, Tagg, Sackman, Strong (Matthews), Morgan, Newman (Huntley), Banger (Baffour), Prior Unused subs Hearn, Spencer
Document last updated: 08/06/2007
