WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2014
VERWOOD TOWN 1 WINCHESTER CITY 5

Winchester's first attack was within minutes of the whistle. A break down the left, a deep cross and Gajic rose higher than the rest to head for a corner. In it came and this time it was Lynch taking a catch under pressure.

We hit back straight away. Buck dummied his marker and chipped to Lowes. Lowes went left before delivering a great cross into the box. City's keeper was quickly off his line to beat Groves to the ball.

Munday went clear from a pass engineered by Whelan but again the City Keeper was quick to spot danger and raced from his area to boot clear.

It was good end to end stuff with 'A no prisoner policy'.

Kelly was on top of his game and a couple of high balls out of the City back four was fodder for him to win and distribute.

Then we had a couple of close calls as City pushed us back. Gajic came into his own with a couple of timely body blocks. Lynch also pulled off a great save at the foot of the post as we got peppered from City's forwards.

It was a good game to watch with both dug outs having good banter.

Then the move of the match for us. Buck won a tackle and slipped the ball inside to Kelly, back to buck on to Whelan. Lowes ran into space for Whelan to drop the ball on his toes. A great through ball released Dan Munday but at two yards from goal his shot flew the wrong side of the post.

City moved quickly into our third and a good piece of football on their left split us for a shot to be hammered in from the corner of the box. Gajic read it well and flung himself across the flight of the ball to deflect it away from danger.

McGilchrist did well to contain a fast break and chipped down the line for Rutten to make a run. He was dropped heavily just past the half way line. Whelan's free kick dropped nicely for Fisk to head for goal but the effort went wide.

Tackles got fiercer but fair. There was no hand bags exchanged only sand bags.

28 minutes and Groves did well to fend off a challenge and square the ball across the box. Munday raced in to put in the net but the whistle went for offside. Cameras after the game apparently evidenced he was on side. Anyway it didn't count.

32 minutes a Lowes Whelan move through the middle split City's defence giving Fisk a run on goal. Out came the keeper and a delicate well placed chip over his head put us 1-0 ahead.

Pressure mounted form the City team but at the half time whistle we were ahead 1-0.

Half Time 1-0

Both Rutten and McGilchrist had suffered knocks in the first half but decided to soldier on. Rutten though only lasted 8 minutes before a hamstring advised him to throw in the towel. On came Russell Dyer.

Buck skipped a tackle and delivered a great cross into City's box. Munday raced in but a last ditch tackle robbed him of a crack at goal.

Lynch had to then save blushes, finger tipping a shot heading for the top corner and then Gajic yet again was in the right spot to block the ball entering the 6 yard box.

Kelly was having an excellent debut and the defence looked reasonably solid against a powerful Winchester City.

A sweeping City move right to left let in a runner. McGilchrist raced back to touch the ball off toes but was judged to have brought the player down. Penalty. 1-1. A dubious decision in the eyes of many but the score line said it all.

Pressure mounted again but we weathered a storm and Lynch having made a foot of the post save threw the ball wide for Buck. On to Whelan who forced a corner. The corner was half cleared and Whelan tried to run on with the ball but one of the City players looked to be collecting shirts. Whelan took the free kick. Gajic went higher than defenders and flicked the ball across the goal. Groves slid in but the keeper dropped on the ball on the line and on Groves' feet. A lucky break for the visitors.

We then lost Jordan Fisk through injury and on came Carl Foster. Foster's first touch was just outside the box and a half volley was cleared up field. We had pushed too far forward leaving space. A runner went free and side footed the ball past an advancing Lynch 1-2.

Poor defending on the near post let a corner creep in at the foot of the post 1-3.

McGilchrist had to come off. On came Clampin for his debut.

Five minutes left and Dyer almost had the ball in the net with a cross shot but City's defence was rock solid and cleared.

We went for broke and suffered. A long ball from City's defence was chased and Kelly got his body between player and the ball. A push in the back and Kelly stumbled forward. Unbelievably the ref gave a free kick to City and sent Kelly off for deliberate hand ball. Not only the fans thought it harsh but we had to abide by the decision. Free Kick and the ball hit the roof of the net. 1-4

Dying seconds and a cross from the far right dipped under the bar. Rough ride this one but the paper's this morning read….

RESULT 1-5

Report submitted by Bernard Scott