British Gas Business Southern League South and West Division 1

WINCHESTER CITY 3 HANWELL TOWN 1

City leave it late to ensure the points

City made hard work of disposing of bottom Club Hanwell Town at the Denplan Stadium on Saturday. Under new management and with several new players, the visitors put up a good fight without really stretching City but despite the home side’s dominance of both halves it was late in the game before Winchester nosed ahead.

Hanwell had a lucky escape early in the match when a long clearance by keeper David Hook was run upfield by Mark Jones who powered in a shot
which the Hanwell custodian managed to beat out. As City pressed Phil Cousins crashed a shot into the side netting and Tom Vavrecka shot over
the bar. Neil Champion floated a free kick into the area and Martin Thomas also put his shot over the bar.

Against the run of play Hanwell took the lead in the 21st minute. City failed to clear and the ball was pumped back into the box and once
again it was not dealt with and at the third attempt Warren Clarke opened the scoring with a close range shot.

After this setback City turned up the pressure. Mark Gamble created a chance for Cousins which he put over the bar and from a free kick.
Jones, after a good run, headed straight at the keeper. and Gamble himself got in a shot after a penetrating dash into the box. Martin
Thomas collected a free kick on the edge of the Hanwell penalty area and skyed his shot. It looked like being ‘one of those days’ as City
began to rue the missed chances.

City started the second half as they ended the first—on the attack. Jamie Musselhwite headed on for Gamble put in a shot which was well
saved by John Armand.

The breakthrough came in the 49th minute. A swinging cross was well delivered by Jones and under pressure from Musselwhite, Hanwell’s Dean
Harper headed past his own keeper. City nearly went two up a few minutes later when Gamble hit the Hanwell post and did take the lead in
the 59th minute when Gamble powered his way into the penalty after a pass from Champion and shot across the keeper to bury the ball in the
far corner.

Hanwell now unfortunaly ‘lost’ keeper Arman when he appeared to have pulled a muscle while taking a goal kick. This misfortune and the fact
that they were behind combined to give Hanwell their best period of the match as they pressed forward for the equaliser. Lloyd Webber and Sean
Thurgood, however proved equal to the task and neutralised a lot of the midfield attacks.

Musselwhite came off in the the 71st minute to be replaced by Martin Beck who added some pace to the flank and in the 80th minute Winchester
also lost their goalkeeper. Hook hobbled off with a back injury and Mark Zawadski substituted.

The last period of the match was disrupted by constant stoppages by the referee but despite this Josh Thomas managed a good shot after
being fed by Beck and another run by Gamble set up Josh Thomas whose shot was well saved by substitute keeper Paul Taylor.

Thomas’ persistence paid off in the end, however, and deep into added time he scored City’s third goal with a fine individual effort.

City ; David Hook, Martin Thomas, Josh thomas, Mark Jones, Sean Thurgood, Phil Cousisns, Lloyd Webber, Tom Vavrecka, Mark Gamble, Jamie
Musselwhite, Neil Champion, Substitutes: Chris Flood, Mark Zawadski (80th), Francis Dolan, Martin Beck (71st), Melvin Rogers.