Post by malcolm on Jan 2, 2024 22:39:34 GMT 1
Winchester started 2024 with a 1-1 draw against Gosport Borough who went into this match in third place with 45 points from their 21 league games and were in third place with the best goal difference in the division. They went into this match on the back of victories against Walton and Hersham. Gosport's managerial duo are both in their 20's and they have done a good job in transforming the fortunes of their club after they finished in the lower half of the table last season.
It was the first time this season that Winchester had scored first in a home league game and failed to win, but overall a draw was probably a fair result with Winchester shading the first half and Gosport the second. The second half though was affected by persistent rain and if that had been present earlier in proceedings it is unlikely the game would have started,
Winchester made one change to their starting line-up from Boxing Day with Simba Mlambo replacing Devon Arnold who dropped to the bench. On the substitutes bench Henry Brooks now back from his loan spell as Bashley replaced Warren Bentley.
Early in Tommy Wright put in a cross that Simba Mlambo just failed to get a decisive touch to. Later in the half , Max Smith has a shot that was deflected for a corner, Simba Mlambo had an effort well saved by Toby Steward in the Gosport goal at the expense of a corner and Winchester had a goal disallowed. Billie Busari who scored a late equalizer in the 2-2 draw between the clubs last season looked menacing and forced a couple of saves from Cairney in the game's first period. With Pip Nolan also heading over from a corner Winchester certainly had more chances in the first half.
However in the second half with conditions worsening Gosport certainly stepped up a gear and substitute Rafael Ramos who had replaced leading goalscorer Dan Wooden early in the game had three efforts on goal, the first of these hit the cross bar, while the other two were just off target. Luke Cairney also made a good save from Jake Scrimshaw, while at the other end Tommy Wright forced a good save from the visitors goalkeeper. Winchesters s pace up front remained a threat to Gosport as the game began to open up.
Pip Nolan made an excellent goal line headed clearance to keep Gosport out and shortly afterwards Winchester made their first substitutions of the day with Devon Arnold and Ollie Balmer replacing Simba Mlambo and Trevor Caborn. These substitutions soon had an impact with an excellent ball by Winchester captain Jamie Barron setting up Arnold to score the opener.
Shortly after going ahead Winchester made their final substitution of the afternoon with Stuart Mott coming on for Pip Nolan and they continued o play with determination. It required an excellent block from Joe Morrison to keep out Ollie Balmer, but four minutes from time Gosport drew level when Jake Scrimshaw scored from close range. Scrimshaw is a player who has 77 football league appearances to his name and last season scored once in seven appearances for Eastleigh.
There was no further scoring and this represented Winchester's fourth draw in a row, but three of these draws have been achieved in local derbies against teams in the top six and this was Winchester's fifth 1-1 draw in the league. Last season they lost 18 and so are well on course to bear that.
In a crowd of 467 Gosport were well represented and their fans gave their team good vocal backing during the game. Gosport certainly have some good players in their ranks and midfield player Danny Hollands has over 300 football league appearances to his name in addition to captaining Eastleigh in the National League. Unusually Hollands is more than a decade older than both of the club's joint managers.
Having played half of their league games Winchester are 11th in the table but with games in hand over some of the teams above them. They have only lost 5 league games to date and only three clubs in their division who have all lost four have a better record in that respect.
On Saturday are away to Plymouth Parkway Winchester are away to Plymouth Parkway. The club have organised a coach for this trip.
It was the first time this season that Winchester had scored first in a home league game and failed to win, but overall a draw was probably a fair result with Winchester shading the first half and Gosport the second. The second half though was affected by persistent rain and if that had been present earlier in proceedings it is unlikely the game would have started,
Winchester made one change to their starting line-up from Boxing Day with Simba Mlambo replacing Devon Arnold who dropped to the bench. On the substitutes bench Henry Brooks now back from his loan spell as Bashley replaced Warren Bentley.
Early in Tommy Wright put in a cross that Simba Mlambo just failed to get a decisive touch to. Later in the half , Max Smith has a shot that was deflected for a corner, Simba Mlambo had an effort well saved by Toby Steward in the Gosport goal at the expense of a corner and Winchester had a goal disallowed. Billie Busari who scored a late equalizer in the 2-2 draw between the clubs last season looked menacing and forced a couple of saves from Cairney in the game's first period. With Pip Nolan also heading over from a corner Winchester certainly had more chances in the first half.
However in the second half with conditions worsening Gosport certainly stepped up a gear and substitute Rafael Ramos who had replaced leading goalscorer Dan Wooden early in the game had three efforts on goal, the first of these hit the cross bar, while the other two were just off target. Luke Cairney also made a good save from Jake Scrimshaw, while at the other end Tommy Wright forced a good save from the visitors goalkeeper. Winchesters s pace up front remained a threat to Gosport as the game began to open up.
Pip Nolan made an excellent goal line headed clearance to keep Gosport out and shortly afterwards Winchester made their first substitutions of the day with Devon Arnold and Ollie Balmer replacing Simba Mlambo and Trevor Caborn. These substitutions soon had an impact with an excellent ball by Winchester captain Jamie Barron setting up Arnold to score the opener.
Shortly after going ahead Winchester made their final substitution of the afternoon with Stuart Mott coming on for Pip Nolan and they continued o play with determination. It required an excellent block from Joe Morrison to keep out Ollie Balmer, but four minutes from time Gosport drew level when Jake Scrimshaw scored from close range. Scrimshaw is a player who has 77 football league appearances to his name and last season scored once in seven appearances for Eastleigh.
There was no further scoring and this represented Winchester's fourth draw in a row, but three of these draws have been achieved in local derbies against teams in the top six and this was Winchester's fifth 1-1 draw in the league. Last season they lost 18 and so are well on course to bear that.
In a crowd of 467 Gosport were well represented and their fans gave their team good vocal backing during the game. Gosport certainly have some good players in their ranks and midfield player Danny Hollands has over 300 football league appearances to his name in addition to captaining Eastleigh in the National League. Unusually Hollands is more than a decade older than both of the club's joint managers.
Having played half of their league games Winchester are 11th in the table but with games in hand over some of the teams above them. They have only lost 5 league games to date and only three clubs in their division who have all lost four have a better record in that respect.
On Saturday are away to Plymouth Parkway Winchester are away to Plymouth Parkway. The club have organised a coach for this trip.