Petersfield Town 2 - 2 Win City
In a tight, tetchy and tense top of the table clash at Love Lane, Petersfield on Saturday 24th January 2014 Winchester City went behind in the 6th minute when the defence failed to clear their lines and gifted Ed Dryden with a close range chance he could not miss.
City came back strongly with Warren Bentley forcing the Petersfield 'keeper, Matt Shortt into a good save with his feet.
Petersfield had most of the play in the first 20 minutes but City's defenders Adam Tomasso, Dominic Cope and the strong midfiedf of Stuart Green, Jaimie Thoroughgood and Deoff Dunn coped well.
When there was football to be played it was City who came out on top especially in the box and they were rewarded in the 22nd minute when Zac Glasspool set up Bentley and he put them level with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Petersfield almost snatched the lead again but Gareth Barfoot managed to kick a goal-bound shot away.
Just before half time Dunn created space to slip the ball to Glasspool but his shot was well saved by the excellent Shortt.
Wth Taz Roberts and Danilo Cadete causing all sorts of problems on the flanks for City in the half, the second held the promise of a win.
Petersfield started the second period strongly and Barfoot was soon called into action to save another accurate shot.
Gradually City got on top and the hard working Glasspool had another shot saved. He was also instrumental in send ing Bentley away and although he beat the 'keeper with his cross shot the ball went just wide of the far post..
In the 65th minute Mamager Paul Masters made a change to try and force the win bringing off Cadete who appeared to be tiring after a constructive first half, to be replaced by Mason.
It was the lively Glasspool who created the gaol which gave City the lead when he danced around a defender and made for the goal line only to be brought down.The Referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty and Bentley had no hesitation in putting it away (67th minute).
The Manager then made two more changes in the 75th minute bringing on Dempsey and Robinson for Dunn and Glaspool.
City pressed forward and Cope sent Roberst away and he looked to have won another penalty when he was brought down but the Referee waived away the appeals.
Petersfield came back in the 78th minute when once again City failed to clear their lines, lofting a ball in the penalty area only for it to fall to Alex Ward who tucked it into the back of the net.
City: Gareth Barfoot, Adam Tomasso, Dominic Cope, Stuart Green, Jamie Thoroughgood, Geoff Dunn, Danilo Cadete, Mick Hubbard, Zach Glasspool, Warren Bentley, Adam Roberts, Chris Mason, Ryan Holloway, Luke Dempsey, Liam Robinson and Daryl Phillips.
