BSB Southern League South and West Division

Winchester City 0 - Uxbridge 1

by John Moody

Missing regulars, Mark Jones, Melvin Roger, Tom Vavrecka, Francis Dolan and Stuart lang and with some players still carrying injuries, City's makeshift side never got to grips with the game which was marred by an unfortunate tackle by Wes O'Connor which left Uxbridges' Damien Panter with a leg broken in three places. A twenty five minute delay while the ambulance attended to the injured player and took him to Winchester County Hospital upset the rhythm of the first half. The news from the hospital is that he underwent an operation on Sunday.

Manager Neil Moss included Nathan Bailey on the bench and goalkeeper Rory Anderson also made his first bench apperance but neither managed to get on the pitch in an uninspring game.

Neither side was able to take control in a scrappy match although Uxbridge had the better of the chances, but their were shots were largely off target.
Those that were likely goal chances were well dealt with by David Hook. Winchesters best chance came at the end of the half when David Goss headed a free kick back across the penalty area from the bye-line but the ball was cleared as Ian Mancey and Jaimie Musselwhite moved in to head goalwards.

The second half followed the pattern of the first with the flow of the game interrupted by too much whistle. David Hook made two good saves in the City goal, pushing a powerful shot over the bar, and diving to divert another as Uxbridge pressed forward.

Mark Gamble came on for O'Connor in the 60th minute and his pace helped up-front but City still lacked penetration. Gamble shot straight at the ?keeper and Musselwhite put a shot just wide of the Uxbridge post after a penetrating run.

With neither side deserving to win the game, Uxbridge took the lead through Dean Pelotohaka when Goss failed to clear and although he mishit his shot this deceived Hook. City nearly snatched a point right on time when a pass from Gamble gave Musselwhite a chance but his shot was brilliantly saved by Mark Phillpott.

With City sinking into the relegation scrap, Saturdays home game against Brook House looks like a six pointer.

City: David Hook, Danny Wakefield, Peter Smith, David Goss, Sean Thurgood, James Davis, LLoyd Webber, Neil Champion, Ian Mancey, Jamie Musselwhite, Wes O?'Connor, Substitutes: Nathan Bailey, Mark Gamble (60th), Chris Flood and Rory Anderson.