WINDSOR AND ETON 2 WINCHESTER CITY 2
CITY SNATCH A POINT
City overcame the odds to snatch a valuable point at Stag Meadow, Windsor, on Saturday.
The game was in doubt up until kickoff time when the match officials gave the go ahead after a lengthy pitch inspection.
After submitting the team sheet City found that Neil Champion was still in Winchester thinking the game was at home! As a consequence young Ross Diaper was promoted from the bench for his first Southern League start. Champion arrived at the ground to ironic cheers from his team mates who were warming up before kick-off.
Team selection was further complicated by the absence of Lloyd Webber who should have been free from suspension but was back on the suspension list due to the cancellation of Citys game against Andover on Tuesday.
Windsor started explosively on a very heavy and wet pitch and smashed the ball against the City crossbar in the first minute. The ?Royals? piled on
the pressure and David Hook in the City goal was kept busy.
Having survived the pressure, it was City who created the best chance. Ian Mancey powered in a free kick which beat the keeper but the ball smashed aganist the crossbar and bounced to safety.
At the other end Mark Williams hacked the ball out of the City area and Hook made a good save as the Royals came foward.
Against the run of play Winchester another chance to take the lead when Mark Gamble won the ball in the penalty area and in a one on one with the keeper saw his shot scrambled away by the custodian?s feet.
Windsor now had the chance to go ahead when Ben Porter broke through on his own and with only Hook to beat he sliced his shot wide. City had another let-off when a shot rattled the junction of the crossbar and post with Hook well beaten.
The heavy pitch negated the football both sides tried to play but nevertheless Jaimie Musselwhite, Gamble and Mancey upfront were creating chances from overlaps by Danny Wakefield and Pete Smith while Diaper worked hard in mid-field.
Their good work paid dividends in the 43rd minute when Gamble worked his way into the penalty box to lay on a gilt-edged pass for Musselwhite to power home.
Champion made his belated appearance at the start of the second half together with Stuart Lang replacing Diaper and Mervyn Rogers who had returned from a broken foot but was not yet match fit.
City were hit hard while settling into their new formation when Ben Porter hit superb shot from 30 yards which was in the net before Hook could react.
The equaliser came in the 48th minute.
Windsor now dominated the next 20 minutes as City fought a rearguard action with Champion, Sean Thurgood and Williams prominent in midfield. Again, against the run of play City had the chance to retake the lead. Mancey fed Gamble whose shot beat the keeper but flashed across the face of goal and just wide. Another chance was created by Smith as Windsor anticipated an offside decision he took advantage to fire in a shot just over the bar. WithCity looking the most likely to score thay were rocked in the 69th minute when Ricci Dolan headed home a cross for Windsor.
It only took City five minutes to get back on terms, however. Windsors keeper Sam Mazurek came to punch a long ball clear but missed and Musselwhite jumping with him headed the ball home for the second equaliser (74th).
Both sides could have snatched the winner in the dying minutes. City were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position but the luckless Champion pulled a muscle when taking the kick and the chance was gone. He limped off the pitch to be replaced by Chris Flood.
At the other end Hook saved a goalbound shot with his feet from a shot by Michael Chennels.
City face Beconsfield SYCONB at home on Saturday 9th December, kick off 3.00p.m.
CITY: David Hook, Danny Wakefield, Peter Smith, Mark Williams, Sean Thurgood, Tom Vavrecka, Melvin Rogers, Ross Diaper, Ian Mancey, Jamie Musselwhite, Mark Gamble, Subsitiutes: Neil Champion ( 46th), Stuart Lang (46th), (Chris Flood 76th), Mark Zawaski.
