City travelled to Bemerton on Friday 1 August to take on their third Sydenhams Wessex League club in their pre-season friendlies calendar and came away with their third victory, the 2-1 scoreline not reflecting the visitors superiority. Manager Andy Leader started the game with the experience of Steve Llewellyn, Adam Lang and Dave Allen all on the bench and with Wilson playing in an unfamiliar No 4 shirt with the full back places taken by Smith and Eyles.
For the first ten minutes or so City looked all over the place allowing the Harlequins to take the lead in the 10th minute. A ball to the right flank found the runner and he cut in and slotted past the diving Davies. Gradually, however, City took control. A good turn by Moussa saw his shot deflected for a corner and a cross by Juryeff beat the defence but Gregory running could not get enough on the ball to divert it across the line. The break came in the 16th minute when a ball over the top found Williams who waltzed through the penalty area to score from close range.
He nearly repeated the feat a few minutes alter but on this occasion the keeper palmed his shot for a corner. M looked lively in the number 9 shirt and on occasions he was too generous with his passes to colleagues when a selfish shot may have achieved a better result. Williams edged City ahead in the 41st minute with probably one of the best goals you’ll see this season. He dragged the ball back leaving a defender floundering and then thundered in an unstoppable shot from 30 yards.
City should have gone in three goals to the good, Juryeff hot the bar and Gregory had another chance that went begging. City started the second half in a dominate mood, George had a good shot blocked by the keeper’s feet and Williams nearly completed his hat trick only to see another tremendous shot deflected for a corner. Eyles put a long-range shot over the bar and Gray and m combined well for the latter to have a goal-bound shot well saved.
Such was City’s superiority that Just after the hour the Manager began bringing on the subs and even brought back on some of those who had changed over during the half. Moussa continued to seek his first goal for Winchester and was put through by Williams only to see the keeper make another good save from his shot.
City: Clint Davies, James Eyles, Dean Smith, James Wilson, Matt Bowler, Adan Gray, Adam George, Kyle Juryeff, Manadou Moussa, Brett Williams, Richard Gregory, Subs (all played), Steve Llewellyn, Adam Lang, Dave Allen, Carl Foster and Dan Esfanddiari.
