BRITISH GAS BUSINESS FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 SOUTH AND WEST

City’s first league visit to Bridgwater Town’s Fairfax Park saw a good game of football marred by the high wind but nevertheless Winchster put more than enough into the match to have won all three points but came away the losers. City’s day did not start well with traffic problems delaying the team’s arrival to a few minutes before the team sheet deadline but having avoided the fine Andy Darnton and Steve Melledew, acting in the absence of Manager Andy Leader in Spain, got down to preparing the team.

Dan Forward for Bridgwater was the first to show as he drove through the midfield and created a good shooting chance in the box but luckily for City he chose to pass to a player standing in an offside position instead of shooting.City hit back with a long range shot from Dave Allen which was easily saved and then a ball over the top from Matt Bowler provided Richard Gregory with an run, but he was deflected by a defenders’s approach and shot wide.

There was then a long period of even play with neither side gaining the advantage. Tom Clarke gave City keeper Clint Davis something to do with a 30-yard effort which was on target but well taken by Davies.Winchester took the lead in the 33rd minute from a free kick. Adam Lang swung the kick across the box, Sam Carter nodded on and Brett Williams brought the ball down and hit it across Tom Manley into the net.

Adam George gave away a free kick in a dangerous position but the Bridgwater player put the kick well wide. City looked like doubling their lead just before half time when Williams broke through the defence but a well-timed challenge thwarted him. Andy Jacob came on for Carter at the start of the second half and he nearly scored with his first kick but the keeper scrambled the ball clear with his feet.

The game changed for City in the 49th minute when they conceded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Nat Pepperell fired the kick into a mellee of players and unfortunately James Wilson got a touch which diverted it into the net for an own goal. This goal gave the home side the boost but Jamie Price was thwarted by a brilliant flying save from Davis. From this, the ball billowed up into the air and after a scramble, Chris Young shot over the bar.

Adam Lang hit a free a kick over the bar as City tried to get back but were undone when Jacob was beaten to the ball in midfield and this allowed Brett Trowbridge to slip the shot beneath Davis from ten yards (58th). Jacob made amends a few minutes later when he hit the side netting from a Williams’ pass and then Williams headed on for Gregory to get in a shot which the keeper covered. Liam Gilbert replaced Mike McEnrey with ten minutes to go, most of which Winchester spent encamped in the Bridgwater half. Gilbert created a chance for George which he put over the bar and two late corners saw Allen and Williams head over.

City: Clint Davies, James Wilson, Adam Lang, Adam George, Matt Bowler, Steve Llewelyn, Mike McEnery, Dave Allen, Brett Williams, Sam Carter, Richard Gregory, Substitutes, Andy Darnton, Andy Jacob (45th) and Liam Gilbert (80th).

This Saturday City are at home to Paulton Rovers, kick off 3.00p.m.