BRITISH GAS BUSINESS FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 SOUTH AND WEST

City travelled to the Waterside Ground to take on old rivals Thatcham Town on Saturday and put on a lacklustre display against an average Thatcham side. Even ‘Mr Dependable', skipper Dave Allen was not up to his usual high standard and our ace penalty king, Adam George, made this the game for his first miss from the spot.

It was Taplin who put in the first shot of the match but his strike was easily saved but it was the home side which started the stronger and took the lead in the 18th minute. A flick by Dave Asker saw Ryan Williams go clear down the right and his pull back was met by Vince Rusher who fired home from 18 yards. Winchester hit back when Adam George struck a shot just wide of Paul Strudley’s left hand post and then were denied a penalty when James Wilkinson picked up a header from Allen and was bundled over in the penalty area.

As City pressed a cross from Richard Gregory was put just wide by George and then Taplin won a free kick after a good run down the flank and as the ball came in Melledew stuck out a hand and the referee had no option to award the spot kick. Unfortunately George did not hit the penalty cleanly and the Thatcham keeper made a good save.

Manager Andy Leader made two chnages at half time ...Knight came on for George and Brett Williams replaced Wilkinson.

The second half started much as the first had ended with Thatcham doing the pressing and the City defence were called into action early to a shot from Ryan Williams. A long run from James Wilson saw him advance into the Thatcham penalty area but his shot was weak and gave the keeper no problem. On the other hand Allen smashed in a great shot which the keeper fumbled but luckily for him the ball spun away to safety.

With about a quarter of an hour to go Aaron Parfitt replaced Gregory but soon after Ryan Williams secured the points with Thatcham’s second after bursting through the centre and firing home. Winchester’s Sam Lockyer went close with a snap turn and shot but again Strudley was on hand to save. In the final few minutes Thatcham could have added a thrird but were denied by two great saves from Davis, the first tipping over a shot from Sean Cook and the second a save from a close range effort from Sam Rea.

City: Clint Davies, James Wilson, Adam Lang, Adam George, Gareth Thomas, Dave Llewelyn, Richard Gregory, Dave Allen, James Wilkinson, Paul Taplin, Sam Lockyer, Subsititues, Scott Gilham, Aaron Parffitt (75th), James Knight (46th), Brett Williams (46th), Stuart Hussey.