Post by malcolm on Jan 21, 2024 16:41:37 GMT 1
Despite a good first half in which they created several chances Winchester went down to a Walton and Hersham team who scored three goals in a six minute spell in the second half to avenge a defeat at the hands of Winchester seven and a half weeks ago.
Walton And Hersham newly promoted to this league made an excellent start to this campaign and were amongst the early pacesetters. They have not fared quite so well in recent weeks, but they remain just off the playoffs, while Winchester dropped to thirteenth as a result of this defeat.
Winchester made five changes to the starting line-up from the Sholing game with Luke Cairney returning from suspension replacing Ryan Pryce in goal and Stuart Mott, Ollie Griggs, Ollie Balmer and Devon Arnold replacing Mark Jamison, Jamie Barron, Tommy Wright and Simba Mlambo with Barron, Wright and Mlambo were on a substitutes bench which also included Harry Nevins and Jordan Rose with the latter returning to the matchday squad. Danny King was Winchester's captain for this game.
Winchester ,made a bright start to the game with Pip Nolan heading just wide following a corner and Harry <ills deflecting a Dan Jones effort on to the bar During the remainder of the first half Tyla thingyinson in the home goal makes superb saves from from a Trevor Caborm header following a free kick fr Ollie Balmer and then right at the end of the half from Devon Arnold who was put through by Ollie Griggs. Shortly afterwards Arnold had to go off injures and was replaced by Simba Mlambo. Dan Jones also came close with a header and Caborm had an effort saved, but his shot lacked power.
Winchester clearly had the better of the first ha;f.but the visitors had pace up front and had showed in the match between the clubs in November that they could score goals on the break and against the run of play.
In the second half Caborn forced a further save from thingyinson and Nolan, Jones and Max Smith all had narrowly off target efforts, but all the time the score remained 0-0 one sensed that Winchester might have to pay for not taking their chances and those fears were justified when midway through the second half a long ball over the top caused confusion in the Winchester defence set up Nano Owisu up and he was able to score with a lob. Three minutes later it was 2-0 when Stan Flaherty who was set up by Mitchal Gough scored with a powerful shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
One further minute later it was 3-0 when substitute Trae Cook pulled the ball back for Johl Powell to score. Having had much the better of the opening hour Winchester suddenly found themselves 3-0 down, but full credit to the home team for being able to advantage of the situation.
Shortly before the third goal Winchester replaced Dan Jones with Tommy Wright and shortly after it they made their third and final substitution with Jordan Rose replacing Ollie Balmer. Mlambo shoots just wide following a cross from Josh McCormick. Winchester are awarded a penalty following a fool by Mitchal Gough late on and this is converted by Pip Nolan. It was the second successive week that Nolan has scored from the spot, but in both cases they were merely consolation goals.
Winchester are away to Basingstoke on Saturday red at home to Tiverton on the following Tuesday.