Tuesday 14th November
BGB Southern League South and West Division
Thatcham Town 2 - Winchester City 3
Two late goals turned the result around and gave Winchester City their first away win of the Southern League season at Thatcham Town
Injuries again restricted Steve Moss’s team selection, and the City boss had to name himself on the bench. His side got off to a characteristically slow start, and Sean Cook exploited the spaces in the City defence to open the scoring after seven minutes, his shot beating Hook in the far corner. The situation looked even worse for the visitors when Franny Dolan was forced off with injury after only 19 minutes, his place in defence taken by the versatile Lloyd Webber, dropping back from midfield with Tom Vavrecka coming on to take up Webber’s usual advanced position.
Thatcham had the better of the first half hour, but without creating another real chance. For their part, City’s first chance did not come until the 36th minute, when a Mark Gamble cross-shot bounced off a defender into the path of Tom Vavrecka, who turned and shot powerfully into the top corner of the net to equalise, very much against the run of play. However, City could have taken the lead two minutes later, when Gamble ran clear on the right, and his shot rebounded off Thatcham keeper, Paul Strudley, a few agonising inches from the onrushing Jamie Musselwhite.
The second half was much more even, with City looking stronger as the game went on. There were many more chances than in the first period, with most of them at first falling to Thatcham. A home free kick was pushed just past the post, and then a header virtually skimmed the far post minutes later. City came more into the match in the last half hour and, after 65 minutes, Dan Wakefield ran clear down the right hand side, with the home defence pausing to appeal for offside which was not given, but his powerful cross from inside the box was just too much for Gamble to turn in.
A few minutes later, and a Thatcham cross flashed across an open City goal, with no home striker there to finish. The home side were not to be denied, and with thirteen minutes remaining, a Barry Elmore cross found Sean Cook unmarked in the six yard box to head home his second goal of the night. Cook should have made the game safe with a chance of his hat trick five minutes later, but he somehow managed to blast over from six yards, with the net at his mercy.
However, City’s heads did not drop, and the arrival of substitute Ian Mancey for Vavrecka seemed to inspire the side in the final ten minutes. As the home defence tired, Gamble was getting clear more and more down the left flank. With two minutes to play, a Neil Champion corner was cleared off the line but fell to Mark Jones, who made no mistake from three yards out. The great turnaround was completed two minutes later, when Mancey and Musselwhite worked the ball to man of the match, Gamble, to hit the winner past Strudley.
Thatcham Town 2 - Winchester City 3
Two late goals turned the result around and gave Winchester City their first away win of the Southern League season at Thatcham Town
Injuries again restricted Steve Moss’s team selection, and the City boss had to name himself on the bench. His side got off to a characteristically slow start, and Sean Cook exploited the spaces in the City defence to open the scoring after seven minutes, his shot beating Hook in the far corner. The situation looked even worse for the visitors when Franny Dolan was forced off with injury after only 19 minutes, his place in defence taken by the versatile Lloyd Webber, dropping back from midfield with Tom Vavrecka coming on to take up Webber’s usual advanced position.
Thatcham had the better of the first half hour, but without creating another real chance. For their part, City’s first chance did not come until the 36th minute, when a Mark Gamble cross-shot bounced off a defender into the path of Tom Vavrecka, who turned and shot powerfully into the top corner of the net to equalise, very much against the run of play. However, City could have taken the lead two minutes later, when Gamble ran clear on the right, and his shot rebounded off Thatcham keeper, Paul Strudley, a few agonising inches from the onrushing Jamie Musselwhite.
The second half was much more even, with City looking stronger as the game went on. There were many more chances than in the first period, with most of them at first falling to Thatcham. A home free kick was pushed just past the post, and then a header virtually skimmed the far post minutes later. City came more into the match in the last half hour and, after 65 minutes, Dan Wakefield ran clear down the right hand side, with the home defence pausing to appeal for offside which was not given, but his powerful cross from inside the box was just too much for Gamble to turn in.
A few minutes later, and a Thatcham cross flashed across an open City goal, with no home striker there to finish. The home side were not to be denied, and with thirteen minutes remaining, a Barry Elmore cross found Sean Cook unmarked in the six yard box to head home his second goal of the night. Cook should have made the game safe with a chance of his hat trick five minutes later, but he somehow managed to blast over from six yards, with the net at his mercy.
However, City’s heads did not drop, and the arrival of substitute Ian Mancey for Vavrecka seemed to inspire the side in the final ten minutes. As the home defence tired, Gamble was getting clear more and more down the left flank. With two minutes to play, a Neil Champion corner was cleared off the line but fell to Mark Jones, who made no mistake from three yards out. The great turnaround was completed two minutes later, when Mancey and Musselwhite worked the ball to man of the match, Gamble, to hit the winner past Strudley.
Document last updated: 08/06/2007
