Winchester City 1 Oxford City 1

British Gas Business Southern League Div One S&W

An injury-stricken Winchester City side battled well to achieve a draw at home to an experienced Oxford City, and in the end will feel slightly unlucky not to have taken all three points. The visitors took the lead midway through the first half, and the scoring was completed by a sensational Lloyd Webber strike just before the interval.

The home side started with one striker on the sidelines, Tom Vavrecka starting in place of the injured Richard Mealey, and within ten minutes had to replace another. Ian Mancey went down in a heap after a clash with an Oxford player and, after an extensive delay, the referee finally allowed physio, Scott Richter, on to treat the stricken player. Ian fractured his cheekbone, and was taken to hospital by ambulance, but somehow managed to pick up a booking for dissent during the proceedings.

Ian was replaced by 16-year-old Tom Biggs, making his first team debut, and within five minutes Tom had a good effort tipped over by the Oxford keeper.

Oxford had started well, forcing two corners in the first few minutes, but City now began to take control. Good work down the right between Tom Vavrecka and Jamie Musselwhite led to a Musselwhite shot turned around a post by the visiting keeper, Carl Wilkins. Despite the City pressure, Oxford were making good chances of their own, and it was the visitors who took the lead after 23 minutes. Anthony Alleyne, who had just put a header against the bar, got clear behind the City defence and his shot beat Dave Hook.

Lloyd Webber led the fightback, covering a vast amount of ground in midfield and finding his range with several good attempts just wide of the Oxford goal. However, the visitors were still making possibly the better chances, mostly on the break. Tom Vavrecka joined the growing casualty list after 42 minutes, carried off after an extremely heavy challenge from Oxford’s Adam Durrant, who some thought lucky to escape with only a booking. James Davis, another 16-year-old, substituted.

The highlight of the first half came just before the break, when Lloyd Webber hit a stunning shot into the right corner, which flew past the keeper before he even had a chance to move. There was just time after this for Oxford to once more go close, and the two sides went in at half time at 1-1.

The second half was a little more cautious, with City’s patched together line-up still controlling the game. The passion and commitment of the home side was more than a match for the greater experience of the visitors. Each side had a free kick just before the hour mark, with both keepers having to get down well to push them past a post. Sam Wyeth was City’s third sub, replacing Jamie Musselwhite, and for a while Oxford gained the upper hand as Steve Moss reorganised his side as best he could. Webber was everywhere, peppering the target with long shots as well as making some great runs through the middle and down the right flank. With an experienced striker on the field, some of this great work would more than likely have led to the winner.

As it was, the game ended even, but with City making all the running. Oxford’s defence held firm and the visitors always looked dangerous on the break. Both sides will probably feel pleased with the point in the circumstances, but the home side will feel unlucky that they couldn’t sneak a winner.

Ian Mancey was later transferred from Winchester to Southampton General Hospital, and was asked to return in five days when the bruising has subsided.

City: Hook, Wakefield, Smith, Jones, Goss, Darnton, Webber, Warren, Mancey (Biggs), Musselwhite (Wyeth), Vavrecka (Davis). Unused sub Zawadski.