Winchester have suffered from more than their fair share of injuries this season and they are still mounting up with Ben U ankle, Danny L Ankle and Steve Knee all still unavailable for selection this week. So with the squad down to the bare minimum there was a chance today for one of next season's youngsters to step into the limelight.
VT Youth are never easy to play against, its a bit like playing against the old Sheffield United side under Warnock, so you just hope for a strong Ref. Unfortunately we didn't get one and after a scrappy first 15 minutes neither side had really tested either keeper and the closest Winchester had come was a long speculative shot from Ben F that sailed well wide. Then a crunching tackle put Ben F out of the game, waiting for an Ambulance and heading to hospital.
Winchester choose to play on and Ty comes on at right back for Ben F and for a while the game settles down. A long clearance from VT is crossed first time but Sam comfotably saves the header. Winchester start to pile on the pressure with Jamie chasing down the right and Jack's shot flashing past the near post. David, Danny K and Zak combine brilliantly to find David again but his cross come shot fails to test the keeper. Another shot by Jack is blocked out to Danny K who blasts his shot over the bar and the first half finishes 0 - 0.
Zak and Ace are dominating midfield and another foul gives Jamie the chance to curl the free kick into the box for Karl to head down for Jack who finds Dan but he's offside. A quick throw from Danny K is flicked on by Dan to Zak who threads his pass through to Jamie to calmly slot home under the keeper to finally put Winchester 1 - 0 ahead.
On the hour Jack is replaced by Ben S for his debut. VT continue to challenge for everything, hard and fast, but in their determination to find an equaliser are leaving huge gaps at the back. Ace breaks down another VT attack and finds Jamie who runs half the length of the pitch, rounds the keeper but can't find the net. Then another tackle leaves Dan unable to walk and like Ben F on his way to hospital.
Still just 1 - 0 down VT believe that they can get back in the game and eventually they get back to 1 -1 when Sam manages to push a long range speculative shot against the post but it still manages to creep over the line. With time running out Jack finds Ben S on the edge of the box. He turns quickly and almost has his shirt ripped off his back but hey it wasn't a penalty! Mitch is then pushed forward in search of a winner and is manhandled to the floor and stamped on but hey that's not a sending off either!! The free kick is whipped in but headed wide and the final whistle blows to bring to an end a game that has left a bad taste in the mouth and 2 boys in hospital.
Ben F and Dan - get well soon.
