After the fantastic performance of last week Winchester city just didn't turn up for the top of the table clash with Eastleigh today. Maybe it was the early start (again) or maybe the force 9 gale blowing across the pitch - but that's just making excuses!
Even in the worst conditions and against the best teams Winchester need to play expansive "Winchester Football". Unfortunately from the start Winchester invited Eastleigh onto them and with the wind behind them Eastleigh took every opportunity to run at the defence and test the agility of Sam in Goal. An early free kick was just tipped over by Sam and an Eastleigh cross disected the six yard box without anyone managing to get the final touch.
Winchester did make a few chances Danny L going close and both Jack and Ben U bringing good saves out of the Eastleigh keeper, but from another long clearance Eastleigh took the lead with a soft shot that went in off the post. Winchester can't cope with Eastleigh's physical game and from another Eastleigh corner go 2 - 0 down (the forearm smash on the back of Sam's head obviously wasn't a foul!) and things go from bad to worse 3 minutes later when the Eastleigh No. 8 rises unchallenged at the far post to head in number 3.
The second half starts with David on for Jamie and within minutes Steve is off injured. Ty comes on at right back with Ace switching to midfield and with the wind behind them Winchester start to push forward looking for a chance to get back into the game. Danny K finds Zak on the left and he beats his man to whip in a low cross that Ben U puts just wide. Ben U then sets up Danny L but his shot is straight at the keeper. Then another long Eastleigh clearance slices between Mitch and Karl and although Sam blocks the shot the ball rebounds to Eastleigh to make it 4 - 0 and put the game out of reach.
With 15 minutes left Ben F came on for Ace with Zak switching to centre midfield and Jamie came on upfront for Ben U and for a while Winchester started to play the ball about Ty and Ben F combining well down the right to create opportunities for Dan and Jamie but with time running out it was Eastleigh who broke free again to make it 5 - 0 with a simple tap in at the far post.
