Win City (7 - 1) Christchurch
WINCHESTER CITY 7 CHRISTCHURCH 1
After the success of a long F.A. Cup run which ended on Saturday it was feared that Tuesday night's home game against Christchurch in the Wessex Premier Division would prove something of an anticlimax but the team responded magnificently and showed their visitors no mercy as they started their climb up the league table. To be fair the first half was not great although City went in 3-1 up but the second was one of total domination.
City started well when a cross from Mike McEnery was headed down by Dominic Cope but easily saved by the Christchurch goalkeeper. A neat move between Warren Bentley and McEnery resulted in the latter just failing to get in an accurate shot.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Chris Manning picked up the ball and beat the 'keeper with a sort of scuffed shot/cross which managed to screw itself in at the near post.
Christchurch were having their share of the play, however, and in the 36th minute got back into the game when Jason Collins failed to hold a rasping shot from Jack Lovell.
The game turned in a three minute spell in which City were awarded two penalties. Bentley was pulled down in the box and slotted home the spot kick himself amongst vociferous complaints from Christchurch (41st). The second penalty came in the 43rd minute for handball which was again protested by Christchurch and again cooly put away by Bentley.
After taking a knock late in the second half Bentley did not appear for the second half, being replaced by Geoff Dunn.
It did not take long for City to increase their lead from a corner Ben Stanbrook got a touch and the ball was diverted into his own net by a Christchurch player (55th).
Christchurch tried to get back in the game and unfortunately lost a player through injury when City 'keeper, Collins, punched clear but fell heavily on his opponent. A lengthy stoppage ensued while he was given treatment before leaving the pitch.
A few minutes after the incident City made two more changes to the team, Manning and Zach Glasspool came off and were replaced by Chris Mason and Liam Green. It was Dunn who had an almost immediate effect when he put in a penetrating run into the box from a ball by McEnery and beat the 'keeper with a crisp right footed shot (64th).
In the 80th minute from a corner by Stuart Green, Stanbrook poked the ball home from close range.
In the 83rd minute another good run from Dunn resulted in him slipping the ball to Cope who appeared to be crossing but the ball shot off into the top corner of the net.
City: Jason Collins, Ryan Holloway, Joe Wright, Stuart Green, Ben Stanbrook, Luke Dempsey, Mike McEnery, Chris Manning, Zach Glasspool, Warren Bentley, Dominic Cope, Callum Casson, Chris Mason, Liam Green, Geoff Dunn and Adam Roberts
Att: 132
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQzUEEj44LY&feature=youtu.be
