Post by malcolm on Jan 8, 2023 17:00:58 GMT 1
Winchester's first visit to Metropolitan Police's ground for 50 years ended in defeat, but they showed great battling qualities after going two goals down and could have easily snatched a point.
Metropolitan Police are a team who have reached the playoffs of this division in each of the last two completed seasons and went into this fixture having won both of their last two matches and being just outside the playoffs.
Winchester had prior to this match re-signed Pip Nolan who was part of their promotion winning team of the previous season and it shows the spirit manager Craig Davis has instilled into the squad that Nolan is one of four players who left the club following promotion who has now returned to the fold with Ollie Griggs, Callum Chugg and Dan Walster being the others.
Nolan replacing Callum Chugg in defence was one of only two changes to the starting line-up from the previous Monday with Ryan Pryce coming in for his first match of the season in goal being the other.
Early on none of the only attacking moments did not produce any notable goalmouth action, but Metropolitan Police took the lead in the 13th minute through a spectacular strike following a free kick from Herson Rodrigues-Alves that flew into the net.
Winchester came close to drawing level firstly when Lerone Plummer shot just wide following a set piece and then when Ollie Griggs set up Warren Bentley whose effort was also just wide and although Conor Lee came close for the home team this was a good passage of play for Winchester and it was frustrating for them that they conceded a second in the 35th minute when Mattell Taylor-Crossdale scored from close range.
Bentley then set up Plummer who shot just wide, while at the other end Fabio Sole had an effort deflected for a corner. Winchester though pulled a goal back in added on time when Ollie Griggs scored with a spectacular volley into the top corner. Griggs does not score many goals and this was his first of the season, but when he does they are usually of good quality and people still remember his goal at Cirencester just over three years ago that put Winchester 3-2 ahead.
Early in the second half Simba Mlambo had a good chance, but shot just wide. However Metropolitan Police came close to scoring again when Rodriguez-Slves hit the bar with a free kick and the home team also missed a penalty in the 75th minute when Pryce made a good save from Rodriguez-Alves's spot kick.
With Claudio Herbert coming in for Ollie Griggs and Henry Brooks replacing Lerone Plummer and later Dan Jones becoming the third Winchester substitute and the benefit of the reprieve from the missed penalty Winchester began to apply a lot of pressure to the home team's goal and Bernard Tanner and Conor Lee were forced to make important interceptions to keep them out. However despite this pressure they could not find the all important second goal.
Winchester are now the highest placed of three clubs averaging exactly a point a game and there are three clubs also below them with a lower points average, but with Plymouth Parkway also below them in the table having games in hand and three of their next four matches against lower placed teams Winchester will be looking for a decent return from these fixtures if they are to remain clear of the bottom six. Nevertheless manager Craig Davis was pleased with the way Winchester despite the result and if that can be maintained in the coming weeks then there is no reason to be pessimistic.
Winchester are away to Dorchester on Saturday and at home to Harrow Borough on the following Tuesday.
Metropolitan Police are a team who have reached the playoffs of this division in each of the last two completed seasons and went into this fixture having won both of their last two matches and being just outside the playoffs.
Winchester had prior to this match re-signed Pip Nolan who was part of their promotion winning team of the previous season and it shows the spirit manager Craig Davis has instilled into the squad that Nolan is one of four players who left the club following promotion who has now returned to the fold with Ollie Griggs, Callum Chugg and Dan Walster being the others.
Nolan replacing Callum Chugg in defence was one of only two changes to the starting line-up from the previous Monday with Ryan Pryce coming in for his first match of the season in goal being the other.
Early on none of the only attacking moments did not produce any notable goalmouth action, but Metropolitan Police took the lead in the 13th minute through a spectacular strike following a free kick from Herson Rodrigues-Alves that flew into the net.
Winchester came close to drawing level firstly when Lerone Plummer shot just wide following a set piece and then when Ollie Griggs set up Warren Bentley whose effort was also just wide and although Conor Lee came close for the home team this was a good passage of play for Winchester and it was frustrating for them that they conceded a second in the 35th minute when Mattell Taylor-Crossdale scored from close range.
Bentley then set up Plummer who shot just wide, while at the other end Fabio Sole had an effort deflected for a corner. Winchester though pulled a goal back in added on time when Ollie Griggs scored with a spectacular volley into the top corner. Griggs does not score many goals and this was his first of the season, but when he does they are usually of good quality and people still remember his goal at Cirencester just over three years ago that put Winchester 3-2 ahead.
Early in the second half Simba Mlambo had a good chance, but shot just wide. However Metropolitan Police came close to scoring again when Rodriguez-Slves hit the bar with a free kick and the home team also missed a penalty in the 75th minute when Pryce made a good save from Rodriguez-Alves's spot kick.
With Claudio Herbert coming in for Ollie Griggs and Henry Brooks replacing Lerone Plummer and later Dan Jones becoming the third Winchester substitute and the benefit of the reprieve from the missed penalty Winchester began to apply a lot of pressure to the home team's goal and Bernard Tanner and Conor Lee were forced to make important interceptions to keep them out. However despite this pressure they could not find the all important second goal.
Winchester are now the highest placed of three clubs averaging exactly a point a game and there are three clubs also below them with a lower points average, but with Plymouth Parkway also below them in the table having games in hand and three of their next four matches against lower placed teams Winchester will be looking for a decent return from these fixtures if they are to remain clear of the bottom six. Nevertheless manager Craig Davis was pleased with the way Winchester despite the result and if that can be maintained in the coming weeks then there is no reason to be pessimistic.
Winchester are away to Dorchester on Saturday and at home to Harrow Borough on the following Tuesday.
