Another rainy day in Portsmouth!
Despite coming off the back of a 2 - 0 win last week end today's game against high flying Moneyfields was always going to be a harder challenge nevertheless Winchester entered the game full of confidence and sporting a new 3 - 5 - 2 formation.
From the start Winchester took the game to Moneyfields and within 5 minutes a maizey run by Zak down the left a slick 1 - 2 with Ben on the edge of the box and snap shot had the Moneyfields keeper srambling across his goal to save at the near post. Gareth, Ben and Liam were forming an impenetrable wall in the centre of midfield and Moneyfields were having to resort to hitting long high hopeful balls over the top that Tyler, Connor and Oli had no trouble in dealing with.
It was therefore a shock and totally against the run of play to find ourselves 0 - 1 down after 30 minutes. Another high ball into the box was knocked safely behind for a corner but Winchester failed to switch on to the danger quickly enough and Moneyfields were able to rise unchallenged and then pounce on the loose ball to fire a low shot into the corner of the net.
Worse was to follow... An innocuous challenge on the edge of the box left Connor seeing yellow and Moneyfields with the chance to make it 2 - 0. Again Winchester failed to win the first header and Moneyfields reacted fastest to sweep in their second. For all their dominance in midfield, all their flare up the wings Winchester couldn't capitalise on a multitude of first half chances and ended up going in at half time 2 - 0 down.
Winchester started the second half as they finished the first on the attack. Laim wasn't allowing his booking in the first half to hinder his game and another crunching tackle released Gareth through the centre only to see his rasping shot fly just over the bar. Slowly the game was coming to Winchester another dashing run by Zak down the left ended with a scything tackle and from the resulting free kick Ty saw his header go just the wrong side of the post.
Finally Winchester got what they deserved when Peter released a long hopeful ball down the middle and Zak ran 60 yards to capitalise on the keeper's thumble and slot the ball into an empty net. Soon after Peter made way for Billy (65) on the right as Winchester continued to search for the second goal. Fine interplay again between Liam and Ben created a clear opportunity for Royce but slow decision making again allowed Moneyfields the time to step in and snuff out the danger.
With 5 minutes left Zak and Ben, having given their all, made way for Adam and John (85) but it was too late to change the result.
City: Chris Brewer, Connor McCarthy, Tyler Wyeth, Oli Vines, Peter Walker (Billy Cooper 65), Liam Richardson, Gareth Snelling, Ben Rowlett (Adam 85), Zaccarius (John Krentz 85), Mike Glanville, Royce Reed. Unused Subs - Ashley Elliott, Josh Fernandez
