Winchester City 3 - 0 Wantage Town

Winchester consolidated second place in the table with a 3-0 win against Wantage in a match featuring the town of King Alfred's birth and the city of his death and burial with a regular cycle ride between the two places reflecting that link.

Wantage went into this match at the wrong end of the table, but having won their last two league matches against Marlow and Slimbridge.

Winchester gave Charlie Smeeton his first starting berth since rejoining the club and he soon repaid the faith of manager Paul Masters by heading home after Eddie Cavanagh (name spelt slightly differently to famous Everton fan Eddie Kavanagh of 1966 F A Cup final vintage), was only able to parry a header from Warren Bentley.

Smeeton also had an effort blocked by Cavanagh's legs and Winchester's task was made easier in the 20th minute when Wantage's Jake John was shown a straight red for a challenge on Adam Tomasso.  Winchester had chances to make their numerical superiority pay, but none of their efforts seriously troubled Cavanagh.  However in the 32nd minute Jamie Barron who was a hive of industry in the middle of the park set Warren Bentley clear and he made no mistake placing his shot well.

Wantage's best effort of the first half was a deflected shot from Piers McGlyn, but Cavanagh was the busier goalkeeper and Winchester continued to look the more likely team to score.

The all important third goal came in the 49th minute when what seemed an innocuous shot from Leigh Mills was not cleared with the away defenders only helping the ball into the net.  After this both teams had chances.  Brendan Norris in the WInchester goal had to make three saves in as many minutes from Nick Thorn once and Ben Whitehead twice, and the Winchester stopper did well to tip an effort from substitute Sam Barder who looked lively after coming on round the post for a corner.

Although Winchester substitute Hallam Basker forced a good save from Cavanagh the nearest Winchester came to scoring was when Matt Benham, seemed set to score, but with the wind affecting the path of the ball his effort was marginally wide.  Benham, Bentley and Zach Glasspool also forced saves from the Wantage goalkeeper, but once they were 3-0 up with an extra man the result was never in doubt.

Attendance 167