British Gas Business Southern League Div One S&W

Didcot Town 3 Winchester City 2

City?s unwanted reputation as the suckers for the early punch was re-inforced away to Didcot Town on Saturday when they were caught out by an intercepted square ball and Stuart Beavon put the home side one up in the 6th minute.

Winchester hit back almost immediately when Mark Gamble put in a good shot that the Didcot keeper did well to palm away. Sam Cockerill, watched by his father Glen, the ex-Southampton and Sheffield United player and current Woking Manager, worked hard in midfield with Lloyd Webber and both created chances but City lacked a holding player up front to capitalise on the speed of Gamble into the gaps.

It was the home side, however, who were well on top, their fast forwards making the City defence look ponderous. Matthew Jack put a header just wide and David Hook pulled of a couple of good saves as Didcot pressed forward.

A good move between Jamie Musselwhite and Webber saw the later shot just wide but Winchester?s attacks were few and far between as they were pressed back on defence.

Didcot went two up in the 17th minute when Dave Goss failed to cut out a cross and Jack King tapped home after appearing to push Stewart Lang out of the way.

As the half ended Hook made another two saves and Didcot?s Weatherstone hit the City bar.

Manager Steve Moss brought Ian Mancey on at half time, sacrificing Andy Darnton and moving Mark Jones back into defence. The move seemed to have the desired effect as Gamble scored a superb solo goal in the 48th minute to put City back into the game and then Mancey forced the Dicot keeper into an acrobatic save and Pete Smith put in an accurate cross which forced the full back into conceding a corner as the visitors pressed for the equaliser.

Just when it seemed to be going well for City, disaster struck. A long ball out of the Didcot defence fell to Ian Concannon who beat Hook in a one to
one situation. A few minutes later they conceded a penalty but luckily Concannon put the spot kick well wide. He was, perhaps, watching the magnificent sight of a steam locomotive pulling into the Dicot Railway Centre behind Hook?s goal at the time!

City continued to press and a flick header from Musselwhite was powered in by Jones but was narrowly wide of the post and then the team?s rhythm was disrupted as Lang was stretchered off after a collision and Tom Veurecka substituted (78th).

The hope of a draw came in the 80th minute when Musselwhite worried a defender into a weak clearance which fell to Mancey who shot home for City?s second goal. The hope faded a few minutes later, however, when Gamble was also carried off on a stretcher after injuring himself whilst crossing. Tom Biggs substituted for the last few minutes.

As John Moody commentating live on Radio Solent?s Southern League match of the day programme summed up the match, ?a great game for the neutral but agony for the City supporters.?

This Saturday City are home to Bracknell Town, kick off 3.00pm.

City: David Hook, Danny Wakefield, Pete Smith, Dave Goss, Stewart Lang, Andy Darnton, Lloyd Webber, Sam Cokerell, Mark Gamble, Jamie Musslewhite, Mark Jones, substitutes: Ian Mancey (46), Tom Biggs (87), Tom Vaurecka (80) and Mark Zawadski.