City snatch local derby
City travelled to local rivals Andover on Boxing Day and came away with another three points after a fighting performance in a typical local derby. Winchester were the first to show when Mark Lilley cut in to set up Nathan Lynch and the ex-City keeper Dave Hook , together with a defender smothered the ball. It looked as if the defender had handled the ball but the referee waved away the City protests.
City’s keeper, Cling Davies was himself forced to make a good save in an Andover breakaway. A good move between Lilley and Dave Allen resulted in Lynch looking as if he had been pushed as he crashed to the ground whilst going for the cross but again the Referee waved play-on. City’s break came in in the classic manner in the 27th minute. Adam Lang flighted in a corner and Allen coolly nodded the ball home.
Andover came back and Davies made a splendid save with his legs in a one-to-one situation.
City took the initiative early in the second half when Allen found himself through but Hook smothered his shot. Andover, however were soon back on terms when Carl Swain’s persistence paid off as he worked his way in to the City penalty area and scored from close range.
Winchester came back and Lilley looked to have scored when he beat the keeper but rolled the ball narrowly wide of the empty net. With time running out Lilley came off and was replaced by Tom Riddell (75th) and Liam Gilbert replaced Allen who had taken a knock (78th). George put in a good run to feed Lynch whose shot was just wide of the Andover goal but in a superb move involving George and Lynch, the latter slipped the ball through to Riddell who took a touch and scored (83rd).
Andover put on the pressure for the equaliser and the ball was hacked out of the City penalty on two occasions before another attractive footballing move saw Riddell and Gilbert swopped passes to set up George and he narrowly missed as he tried to place the ball after beating the keeper.
City: Clint Davies, James Wilson, Adam Lang, Adam George, Matt Bowler, Scott Gilham, James O’Keeffe, David Allen, Nathan Lynch, Mark Lilley, Sam Lockyer, Substitutes: Melvin Rogers, Tom Riddell (75th), Liam Gilbert (78th).
