British Gas Business Southern League South and West Division 1

WINCHESTER CITY 2 ABINGDON UNITED 0

City fielded their fourth different goalkeeepr in four matches at home against Abingdon United on Saturday. Lyall Beazley from Portsmouth took his place between the posts on this occasion.

Both teams played good football despite the swirling wind but neither could establish the upperhand for the first half an hour.

Mark Gamble put in the first shot of the match from 30 yards but was wide and then a clearance from a corner was collected by Neil Champion who crossed for Phil Cousins to have a shot saved.

A breakaway by Abingdon saw Ryan Brooks clear in the penalty area but Beazley managed to get a hand to the ball at the expense of a corner.

When play switched to the other end City hit the post in a melee and a good run by Pete Smith put himself in the clear but the keeper saved his shot. The Abingdon keeper made another good save this time from Cousins who had collected the ball in midfield and shot from the edge of the box.

Tom Vavrecka broke the deadlock for City in the 32nd minute when a Cousins' shot was completely missed by the Abingdon keeper, Simon Tricker, and Vavrecka running in well walked the ball into the empty net.

City now piled on the pressure Champion centred for Lloyd Webber to screw his shot wide and Sean Thurgood who was having a brilliant game in defence came up for a free kick and put his header was just wide.

Beazley prevented the visitors going in at half time on an equal footing when he pulled off a point blank save.

City started the second half on the attack Francis Dolan headed on a free kick and Mark Jones headed just wide and then Ian Mancey chested down a ball to Vavrecka whose shot was beaten out but the ball came back to him and his second shot was blocked.

On the hour City went two when Webber netted from close range after Vavrecka and Gamble had combined to set up the chance.

Beazley made another good save as Abingdon hit back and Thurgood picking up the clearance worked his way upfield and singed the post with his shot.

In the 75th mniute Gamble came off and was replaced by Jamie Musselwhite and five minutes later Manger Steve Moss made his second change swopping Cousins for Danny Wakefield.

With time running out Webber put in a good pass to Musselwhite who failed to hit his shot properly and the keeper made an easy save.

Martin Beck came on with five minutes to go in place of Ian Mancey as City cantered to the finish but not before Smith put the ball just over the bar.

Cityy: Lyall Beazley, Francis Dolan, Peter Smith, Mark Jones, Sean Thurgood, Phillip Cousins, lloyd Webber, Tom Vavrecka, Ian Mancey, Mark Gamble, Neil Champion, Substitutes, Jamie Musselwhite (75), Martin Beck (85), Danny Wakefield (80)