Post by malcolm on Mar 25, 2023 22:50:18 GMT 1
Winchester achieved their most convincing victory of the season and completed their first double of the campaign as they beat a Beaconsfield team that went into this match in good form having picked up 13 points from their last 5 league games. It was the first time Winchester had scored four goals without reply in a league game since Paulton Rovers were defeated 4-0 in December 2021.
With fourth from bottom Harrow Borough losing at home Winchester are now seven points clear of the relegation zone, with the fourth of bottom place now occupied by North Leigh who surprising;y beat leaders Weston Super Mare on Saturday, North Leigh have played a game more than Winchester.
Beaconsfield who remain in the top half of the table had a couple of players known to local football followers. Dan Bradshaw played for Winchester in the 2020/21 season and Sam Togwell who captained Eastleigh in the National League and has 333 football league appearances to his name. They recently appointed the former Slough duo of Jon Underwood and Neil Baker as their management team.
Prior to this season the clubs had also met in the 2006/07 and 2008/09 seasons with these matches providing 3 Winchester wins ans 1 Beaconsfield success, with Beaconsfield known as SCYOB in those days
Winchester's squad of 16 for the match was the same as that for the away match at Chesham, with the only changes to the starting line-up see Ollie Balmer and Jack Torniainen replace Ollie Griggs Abs ===s Luke King who wee on the substituted bench.
There was not too much action early on, with Charlie Philpott making the first save of the game following a goalmouth scramble resulting from a corner. However Winchester began to get on top with Simba Mlambo almost getting a decisive touch to a cross from Warren Bentley, while Ollie Balmer has a shot saved by Kie Plumley had to save from Ollie Balmer, while the away team's Callum Webb is forced to make a goal line clearance.
Winchester however took the lead in the 26th minute when a corner was not cleared and Simba Mlambo was able to put away the loose ball, A minute later it was 2-0 when a spectacular strike from Ollie Balmer following a free kick. Balmer only returned to the club just over a week ago and was making his first start since then. As the free kick was lined up someone in close proximity to me reminded me of the fact that our free kick expert had returned to the club and Balmer could not have provided confirmation of tart in more devastating fashion.
After the second goal Beaconsfield had a brief spell of pressure and Winchester had to defend well and get kin vital blocks to keep them out. Having seen Winchester's previous two 2-0 leads at home reduced to 2-1 and setting up a nervous finale Winchester wanted to avoid any anxieties of this kind this time around and it was important that they maintained this 2-0 lead. Winchester though finished the half the stronger of the teams and Balmer hit the outside of the post and Mark Jamison has a header saved.
In the second half Beaconsfield tried hard to get back in the game, but Winchester were looking the more likely team to score and Simba Mlambo had a shot saved. Winchester got the all important third goal when Warren Bentley set up Callum Baughan who finished well in scoring his first league goal for the club, with his goal enabling Winchester to score three goals on home soil for the first time in their league campaign,
With the game effectively won Winchester begin to play some delightful stuff and in the latter stages of the second half they make all three substitutions with Luke King replacing Warren Bentley, Ollie Griggs coming on for Jamir Barron, and Pip Nolan being replaced by Archie Willcox. However before leaving the field another of Nolan's long throws saw Simba Mlambo get on the end of and score his second of the game. Luke King hit the post and although Charlie Philpott has to save two free kicks Winchester are very much looking the team more likely to score as they complete a memorablle victory in which ever player plays their part.
ON Saturday Winchester travel to play leaders Weston Super Mare. Four second half goals enabled Winchester to beat their Clanfield (Hampshire) counterparts 4-0.
With fourth from bottom Harrow Borough losing at home Winchester are now seven points clear of the relegation zone, with the fourth of bottom place now occupied by North Leigh who surprising;y beat leaders Weston Super Mare on Saturday, North Leigh have played a game more than Winchester.
Beaconsfield who remain in the top half of the table had a couple of players known to local football followers. Dan Bradshaw played for Winchester in the 2020/21 season and Sam Togwell who captained Eastleigh in the National League and has 333 football league appearances to his name. They recently appointed the former Slough duo of Jon Underwood and Neil Baker as their management team.
Prior to this season the clubs had also met in the 2006/07 and 2008/09 seasons with these matches providing 3 Winchester wins ans 1 Beaconsfield success, with Beaconsfield known as SCYOB in those days
Winchester's squad of 16 for the match was the same as that for the away match at Chesham, with the only changes to the starting line-up see Ollie Balmer and Jack Torniainen replace Ollie Griggs Abs ===s Luke King who wee on the substituted bench.
There was not too much action early on, with Charlie Philpott making the first save of the game following a goalmouth scramble resulting from a corner. However Winchester began to get on top with Simba Mlambo almost getting a decisive touch to a cross from Warren Bentley, while Ollie Balmer has a shot saved by Kie Plumley had to save from Ollie Balmer, while the away team's Callum Webb is forced to make a goal line clearance.
Winchester however took the lead in the 26th minute when a corner was not cleared and Simba Mlambo was able to put away the loose ball, A minute later it was 2-0 when a spectacular strike from Ollie Balmer following a free kick. Balmer only returned to the club just over a week ago and was making his first start since then. As the free kick was lined up someone in close proximity to me reminded me of the fact that our free kick expert had returned to the club and Balmer could not have provided confirmation of tart in more devastating fashion.
After the second goal Beaconsfield had a brief spell of pressure and Winchester had to defend well and get kin vital blocks to keep them out. Having seen Winchester's previous two 2-0 leads at home reduced to 2-1 and setting up a nervous finale Winchester wanted to avoid any anxieties of this kind this time around and it was important that they maintained this 2-0 lead. Winchester though finished the half the stronger of the teams and Balmer hit the outside of the post and Mark Jamison has a header saved.
In the second half Beaconsfield tried hard to get back in the game, but Winchester were looking the more likely team to score and Simba Mlambo had a shot saved. Winchester got the all important third goal when Warren Bentley set up Callum Baughan who finished well in scoring his first league goal for the club, with his goal enabling Winchester to score three goals on home soil for the first time in their league campaign,
With the game effectively won Winchester begin to play some delightful stuff and in the latter stages of the second half they make all three substitutions with Luke King replacing Warren Bentley, Ollie Griggs coming on for Jamir Barron, and Pip Nolan being replaced by Archie Willcox. However before leaving the field another of Nolan's long throws saw Simba Mlambo get on the end of and score his second of the game. Luke King hit the post and although Charlie Philpott has to save two free kicks Winchester are very much looking the team more likely to score as they complete a memorablle victory in which ever player plays their part.
ON Saturday Winchester travel to play leaders Weston Super Mare. Four second half goals enabled Winchester to beat their Clanfield (Hampshire) counterparts 4-0.