BRITISH GAS BUSINESS FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVIVISION 1 SOUTH AND WEST

After a run of poor results City faced a potential disaster at home to struggling Slough Town on Saturday. A slip-up could have resulted in Winchester dropping down the league, a win could virtually but not mathematically make them safe for another season in the Southern League. Two goals from skipper Dave Allen achieved the latter and put a smile back on manager Andy Leader’s face and he was able to enjoy his birthday surprise in the Clubhouse after the match in a relaxed frame of mind!

City dominated the first half right from the kick off. Aaron Parfitt (who picked up the man of the match award) put a shot just over the bar in the first attack from an Allen cross and then Adam Lang glanced a header across the box and Paul Taplin only managed to get a feint touch when a shot could have resulted in a goal.

In a rare Slough attack keeper Clint Davies got a solid block on a goal-bound shot as the ball was cleared a good combination of passes between Allen and Sam Lockyer resulted in the latter screwing a shot just outside the far post. Langer was also involved in the next attack, working down the flank he laid on a chance for Stuart Hussey but he too put his shot wide, this time over the bar.

As City continued to come forward James Wilson weaved his way down the wing only to flight a good shot just too high. As the half ended Lockyer and Hussey combined well for Hussey to put over again.

Five minutes into the second half Richard Gregory and Adam George came on as substitutes. City broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when the Slough keeper, Richard Barnard, failed to hold a shot from Parfitt and Allen quickly snapped up the loose ball to slam home from close range. It looked as if City would go two-up when George and Lockyer combined to set up a cross which Gregory just failed to connect with an open goal in front of him.

Hussey, who has just returned after a long injury lay off, was substituted in the 70th minute for Andy Jacob. Slough now had a short period of attacking play but with Steve Llewelyn, Parfitt and Scott Gilham having to work overtime and with Wilson and Lang steady behind them and Davies in good form the City goal was never seriously under threat.

Allen put the game beyond the visitors in the 72nd minute when Jacob did well to knock the ball back to him from deep in the penalty area. Allen steadied himself and scored with a hard and low shot to the bottom corner of the net. This Saturday City travel to Newport in the Isle of Wight who are all but relegated but can expect a tough game with a few ex-City players now in the Islanders’ squad.

City: Clint Davies, James Wilson, Adam Lang, Aaron Parfitt, Scott Gilham, Steve Llewelyn, James Knight, Dave Allen, Stuart Hussey, Paul Taplin, Sam Lockyer, Substitutes: Matt Bowler, Richard Gregory (50th), Adam George (50th), Andy Jacob (70th), Adam Gray