Win City (3 - 0) Totton & Eling
Winchester City's last home game of the season saw City wanting a win to secure second place in the league and Totton and Eling needing a win to climb away from relegation. The situation promised a cracking game but what emerged was a nervous start from both teams.
It did not take City long to take the lead. Warren Bentley laid the ball off to Zack Glasspool and he beat the 'keeper with a powerful left footed shot under his dive (7th minute).
This early goal set City up but forced Totton and Eling to think again about their plan. Bentley was the next to worry them when he put in a penetrating run into the box but his shot was scrambled clear.
The half, however, settled down into a period when neither side could force the decisive move but the game changed again in the 40th minute when the Assistant Referee drew the Referee's attention to a small disturbance in the centre of the field which eventually resulted in City's Micky Hubbard and Totton and Eling's Connor Hoare being straight red carded.
It was Totton and Eling who started strongly in the second half and Gareth Barfoot made a diving save to keep City's lead.
Winchester soon took over and dominated the rest of the match. Glasspool laid on a chance for Bentley but the 'keeper pulled off a good save and then Bentley picked up a long clearance and forced him into another save.
Manager Paul Masters made a change in the 67th minute when Ryan Holloway was replaced by Liam Robinson as he gambled with a re-arranged defence and strengthened attack.
The move nearly looked like rebounding on City when Totton and Eling hit the side netting from a corner.
City took complete control in the 76th minute when Robinson slipped the ball to Bentley and he scored from close range nutmegging the 'keeper. A great individual goal from Bentley a minute later rebounding the ball off the bottom of the crossbar sewed up the points.
Two more changes were made to the team in the 78th and 79th minutes. Geoff Dunn was replaced by Danilo Cadete and Charlie Smeeton was replaced by Adam Tomasso.
Just before the final whistle it looked as if Robinson would score City's fourth goal he beat the 'keeper but screwed his shot just wide.
City: Gareth Barfoot, Ryan Holloway, Dominic Cope, Micky Hubbard, Jaimie Thoroughgood, Luke Dempsey, Geoff Dunn, Stuart Green, Zach Glasspool, Warren Bentley, Charlie Smeeton, Adam Tomasso, Danilo Cadete, Liam Robinson and Callum Casson.
