Win City (3 - 1) Whitchurch
City, the Wessex League team of the month, continued their climb up the league table with an excellent win against the undefeated league leaders, Whitchurch United, on Saturday 18th October 2014.
Winchester appeared to suffer a crushing blow in this vital league clash when top scorer Warren Bentley hobbled off in the build-up with an injury and Geoff Dunn got the start. He did not let the side down and was instrumental in the win.
When it looked as if City's luck was out, fortunes changed in the 4th minute of the game. Dominic Cope worked his way into the box and the Whitchurch 'keeper, Brad Snelling, roared off his line and bundled him over. Zach Glasspool put the resultant spot kick away although the 'keeper managed to get a hand to it onto the post.
Although Whitchurch played some football, their tactics seemed to rely of the long ball and a physical presence which played right into the hands of the home side's superior footballing skills. At times, however, City had to resort to their game and the half was scrappy as a consequence.
Whitchurch were let back into the game in the 34th minute when, unfortunately, Mike McEnery chose to pass across his own box to Luke Dempsey only for the ball to be intercepted by Dan Phillips and Jason Collins was beaten by a hard shot.
City got back to their best in the second half as Whitchurch continued to hit ball up the middle and from then on there was only one winner of the game.
It looked as if McEnery had redeemed himself when he put the ball in the net but was ruled off side.
In the 48th minute Dunn restored City's lead when he picked up Collin's long clearance and as the Whitchurch 'keeper advanced he cooly curved the ball around him into the net.
As Whitchurch became more heated City's captain, Stuart Green, and Jack McCarthy tussled for possession the Whitchurch player claimed he was elbowed. The Referee turned down the claim and booked both players!
A few minutes later Whitchurch's Scott Hassell also went into the book for what looked like a tit-for-tat tackle on Green.
Whitchurch had completely lost their way and and a long ball from Dempsy fell to Dunn who played in Glasspool for a shot against a defender. As City pressed Ben Stanbrook looked to have worked a chance from a Glasspool free kick but Whitchurch scrambled the ball away.
Things got worse for Whitchurch when Jamie Mansell took a kick at Chris Mason and received his marching orders in the 68th minute.
City sewed up the game close to the final whistle when the excellent Dunn slotted a pass to Zach Glasspool and the striker did the rest.
City: Jason Collins, Dominic Cope ,Luke Dempsey, Geoffrey Dunn, Zach Glasspool, Stuart Green, Ryan Holloway, Christopher Mason, Michael McEnery, Ben Stanbrook, Joe Wright, Chris Manning, Liam Green, and Adam Roberts.
