Win City (5 - 1) Alresford Town
Winchester City 5 Alresford Town 1
City completed a comfortable victory over neighbours Alresford Town at the Denplan Stadium on Monday 6th April 2015 in what could have been a tricky local derby. In perfect weather and in front of a crowd of over 306 City gave nothing away as they sought to maintain their second place in the league.
City started strongly with Taz Roberts intercepting a poor clearance by Alresford 'keeper, Gary Morrison, and passing to Charlie Smeeton who put his shot just wide. Morrison compensated for his error a few minutes later when he was in the right position to bring off a good save from a powerful shot from Zack Glasspool.
Although City dominated play, Alresford defended well and Winchester were finding it hard to penetrate but a break in the 32nd minute eventually opened the door. A rash tackle in the box by Craig Bryant on Smeeton, saw the Referee award a penalty which Warren Bentley duly tucked away.
Alresford fought back and Gareth Barfoot was forced into a diving save to prevent the equaliser.
City went further ahead in the 43rd minute when Glasspool pulled the ball back from a defender's tackle and slipped it to Bentley who scored from close range with a first time shot.
Winchester Manager, Paul Masters, made two changes at the start of the second half when he rested his two widemen, Roberts and Smeeton and replaced them with Geoff Dunn and Danilo Cadete.
Morrison made another good save early in the second half, the ball going for a corner. When the corner came in from Glasspool, Luke Dempsey was the first to the ball heading home at the far post (58th minute).
Three-up City now turned the screw Jaimie Thoroughgood headed just over the bar from a free kick and another free kick taken by Glasspool was just wide of the post. Dunn came even closer when he cut in from the wing and beat the 'keeper but his shot was a little too acute to find the far corner of the net.
Against the run of play Alresford pulled themselves back into the game when City were caught too far forward allowing Andy Turner to run almost the length of the pitch to score a great individual goal (75th minute).
Bentley completed his hat trick in the 82nd minute with a turn and shot in the box. Liam Robinson came on for Bentley in the 85th minute and scored with his first touch, Micky Hubbard setting him up with a pinpoint pass.
The win means City need three points from their last four games to be mathematically sure of second place.
City: Gareth Barfoot, Ryan Holloway, Dominic Cope, Mick Hubbard, Jaimie Thoroughgood, Luke Dempsey, Adam Roberts, Stuart Green, Zack Glasspool, Warren Bentley, Charlie Smeeton, Geoff Dunn, Liam Robinson, Danilo Cadete, Asdam Tomasso and Calum Casson.
Att: 306
