Sydenhams Wessex League

Moneyfields 2 Winchester City 1

In a repeat performance to last seasons opening of the Wessex League campaign, City start with three victories followed by a fourth display of a highly disappointing nature and end up losing their unbeaten record. Moneyfields bettered City in most departments especially in the first half, always quicker to the ball and playing with a slick movement.

Jamie Musselwhite had an early opening chance for City but the two nippy Moneyfields strikers in Lee Mould and Nicky Wyatt were causing City’s defence all sorts of problems and both layers had chances in the opening six minutes. It was no surprise when the home side went ahead on twelve minutes. Ex City midfielder Graeme Gee intercepted a loose ball from the City defence. Gee’s pass into the path of Wyatt saw the striker drill the ball towards the far post but a wicked deflection off Gary Green wrong footed David Hook and the ball nestled in the back of the City net.

Moneyfields also had chances to increase the first half lead. Mould turn and shot from the edge of the box rolled agonisingly wide, Gee blazed over from inside the six yard box, and a long distance effort from Mould was scrambled away by Hook.

With one change already enforced after only ten minutes with Michael Dean having to be withdrawn for injury, manager Steve Moss made another change at half time with striker Mark Lilley replacing Tommy McCormick. Seven minutes into the second period and a Lilley cross was cleared off Ian Manceys head by goalkeeper Dean Wain and Toby Sumner and Mark Jones could not make the most of the ball that was bobbling around the area. A minute later Musselwhite managed to get a toe poke shot on goal but again Wain was equal to the attempt, as it appeared City were moving into their stride.

Moneyfields issued a warning with a Wyatt shot being deflected and another Hook save was required. With fifty-eight minutes played Moneyfields did add a second. A cross to the far post by Sean Wain was headed home by Mould. Two minutes further on and City had a lifeline. Some good interplay between Lilley and Musselwhite ended with Musselwhite switching play with a thirty-yard cross-field pass. The ball was collected by Mancey who rifled a shot past Wain all in one movement and City appeared to be en route to claw back the deficit.

The revival never took full rewards though. Stuart Brown was thrown into the action in place of Franny Dolan to give City five strikers on the pitch but apart from a weak Brown effort with his first touch City rarely troubled the Moneyfields goal.

As the game reached its climax Lilley had a drive saved at the near post by Dean Win, but City never looked like giving enough to earn themselves a point.

Moneyfields : D Wain, Clark, S Wain, Elias, G Rutherford, Knight, Kerridge, Gee, Mould (Gilmore), Wyatt (Leworthy), M Rutherford Unused subs Black, Field, Leaver

Winchester : Hook, Dolan (Brown 66), McCormick (Lilley 45), Jones, Lang, G Green, Dean (Lewis 10), Lewis, Mancey, Musselwhite, L Green Unused subs Redwood, Walker-Harris