Winchester showed their character and stepped up their game but could only manage a draw against a strengthened Eastleigh Rangers side looking for revenge after suffering 2 defeats to Winchester already this season.
From the start Winchester took the game to Eastleigh. A great ball down the left is cleared and from the corner Steve's shot goes inches wide. Ty finds Danny K who beats his player and finds Ben U, his throughball finds Zak on the overlap and his cross is beaten away for another corner. Zak and Danny K on the left and Ben F and Jamie on the right continue to rip Eastleigh apart at will but Winchester still can't capitalise on thier dominance.
Corner after corner, shot after shot but still no goals. Steve blasts over, Ben U's shot is blocked, Jamie hits the side netting, Danny L has his shot tipped over and the Keeper bravely dives at Ben U's feet to snuff out another Winchester attack. Just before half time Wnchester suffer a forced change when Ben F is injured and is replaced by Mitch in the centre of defence with Ty going to right back. There's still time for Zak and Ben U to combine well to find Ace on the edge of the box but his shot is deflected for a corner from which Karl heads just wide.
The second half starts with Winchester making three chages and reverting to a 4-4-2 formation. With Zak, Ace and Ben U off Dan, Jack and David on, the pressure is on to keep up the tempo and find the goal that the first half was missing but it was Eastleigh Rangers that came out fighting. Sam beats away a thunderous Eastleigh free kick and Jamie clears a corner off the line as Eastleigh pile on the pressure.
Winchester weather the storm and Mitch heads clear another corner to find David who switches play to Jamie. His through ball finds Jack but the shot is straight at the keeper. Jamie shoots over and Dan fires just wide but while Winchester are still generating a few chances they just can't gel as a unit and Eastleigh take control again. Danny K, Mitch and Karl have to win a number of critical tackles at the back and Sam is forced into a couple of fine saves to keep the score 0 - 0.
With 10 minutes left Winchester go back to the first half formation and personnel but there's no time for anyone to make an impression and the game ends in stalemate. Definitely a better performance than last week, we just need to get back to scoring!
