City brought their Christmas / New Year holiday haul of points to seven with a fighting draw at home to Gosport Borough on New Year’s Day in a typical Hampshire derby with the advantage moving from one club to the other throughout the match.
Dave Allen set the standard which gave him the man of the match award when he headed just over the bar from a pinpoint cross from Stuart Hussey in the first minute. The same combination gave Winchester the lead in the 20th minute when Hussey threaded a ball through from midfield and Allen controlled it well and slipped a sweet shot shot past the advancing keeper, Max Frampton.
City piled on the pressure and Nathan Lynch was unlucky to see a powerful shot smothered and then after the same player was brought down on the edge of the area, Adam George clipped the Gosport crossbar with the resultant free kick. Just before half time Liam Gilbert shot wide when well placed.
Winchester’s hard work paid dividends early in the second half when Allen (50th), completely unmarked, had the luxury of the time to pick his spot with a header from a free kick flighted in by Sam Lockyer.
Two up and looking to build, City were hit by a controversial decision. Matt Bowler was pulled up for ‘hands’ when the ball appeared to have hit him in the face but the referee signalled a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and Gosport’s Josh Thomas headed home Kevin Gill’s free kick (53rd).
In the 73rd minute were hit again when Bowler was penalised for a foul on Justin Benett. The referee originally gave a free kick just outside the box for obstruction but his assistant called his attention and said that the offence was committed inside the box. Bennett converted the penalty. Benett put Gosport into the lead in the 79th minute from a Lee Chudy corner.
With time running out Manager Andy Leader brought on Mark Lilley for Lynch (80th) and a few minutes later Chuddy was adjudged to have handled a throw by Allen in the box and George cooly slotted the penalty home for City’s equaliser.
City: Clint Davies, James Wilson, Liam Gilbert, Adam George, Matt Bowler, Scott Gilham, James O’Keeffe, Dave Allen, Nathan Lynch, Stuart Hussey, Sam Lockyer, Subs: Mark Lilley (80th), Melvin Rogers, Matt Czastka, Adam Aimable and Tom Riddell.
