Winchester City showed a 100 per cent improvement on their disappointing F.A. Cup exit the previous week with a fine win over Thatcham Town at home on Saturday. Once again manager Andy Leader had to juggle his team but on this occasion he managed to keep all the balls in the air at the same time resulting in a good team effort. Andy Baylis came in for his first start in goal and new signing James Wilson from Gosport Borough slotted into the number 2 shirt from the off.
City started off on the attack with Matt Czastka testing the Thatcham defence with a penetrating cross and then Adam George won the ball in midfieled to set up Sam Lockyer but the ball ran on and he hurried his shot just wide.
Czastka, now coming back to full fitness, had a great chance a few minutes later when Wilson pumped a long ball through and he beat the keeper with a cross shot which unfortunately was just too wide of the far post.. He was given another opportunity when chasing another through ball but on this occasion was foiled by the keeper’s save with his feet. This brought a rolling drum salute from the Bus Stop Band who were stationed in the new stand for the first time moving back to their traditional base in the second half.
As City continued to press Dave Allen headed on a free kick but lacked support in the box to take advantage of the knock-on. Mark Lilley was the next to show when he beat the full back on the edge of the box and crossed for Thatcham to scramble a corner. The corner was cleared but Matt Bowler headed the clearance back onto the Thatcham bar but the move was cancelled by an off side decision.
In a rare break Thatcham stretched Baylis in the City goal who did well to dive at full stretch to push a shot away.
As the half ended Allen had two chances to put City into the lead. He chested down a powerful pass but had his shot well saved and then put another good effort wide.
It took City only three minutes into the second period to turn their advantage to a goal. Chzastka weaved his way up the flank and crossed for Lilley to slam home his first goal of the season.
City nearly went two-up when Lockyer drifted a free kick into the box and T-J McClory-Cuthberton pushed his shot just over the bar.
The goal had, however, sparked Thatcham into action and for a period they pushed for the equaliser. The spotlight fell on Adam Lang, Wilson and Bowler as they held the line well suported by Steve Llewellyn and McClory-Cuthbertson.
The Manager made a change in the 65th minute bringing on Brett Williams for Lockyer to give the Thatcham defence another problem to solve as the youngster’s pace soon put them in trouble with a good run and a shot on the turn. McClory-Cuthbertson put in a penetrating run but his cross just fell short of Allen who was well placed.
In the 69th minute Lilley came off to be replaced by another young player, James Eyles and ten minutes later Tery Cox came on to add some bite to the midfield as Thatcham began to put some passes together, replacing Czastka who had run himself into the ground.
As the game again swung to Wincheter McClory-Cuhbertson put a long-range shot narrowly over the bar.
Thatcham almost snatched a point at the death but Baylis managed to get his legs in the way of a goal-bound shot and scramble the ball away.
City: Andy Baylis, James Wilson, Adam Lang, T-J McClory-Cuthbertson, Matt Bowler, Steve Llewellyn, Matt Czastka, Dave Allen, Mark Lilley, Adam George, Sam Lockyer, Substitutes: Brett Williams (65th), Clint Davies, Dave Lewis, Terry Cox (79th) and James Eyles (69th).
