Post by malcolm on Apr 23, 2023 15:24:06 GMT 1
My 48th and final match report of the season
The match between two previous F A Vase winners saw Winchester win 4-2 at Tiverton in their final league match of the season and end up in 18th position in a league of 22 teams. This result did not enable them to c,limb any places in the table, but enabled them to stay above Gosport who also won their final game of the season and finish just one point below Salisbury. The victory was also Winchester's first success in the current campaign having been behind at the interval.
This was their first ever league win against Tiverton in eight encounters with the previous seven producing four Tiverton wins ands three draws. Tiverton remain in 12th place, but they went into the match having conceded only one goal in their last four home league games, only on one previous occasion (against Salisbury in October) had they conceded four league goals in this campaign.
Earlier in the season Winchester had a run of 11 games without a win which briefly put them in the relegation places, with the home defeats against Tiverton and Salisbury being probably the most disappointing results in that sequence, and it is pleasing that in recent weeks both of these defeats have been avenged. In fact Winchester finished the season with 7 runs from their last 16 league campaign to ensure they well clear of the relegations.
A feature of Winchester's recent resurgence has been the return of last season's player who at the start of this season did not re-sign and two of these in Callum Chugg and Ollie Balmer were on the scoresheet against Tiverton. The other two goals were scored by Jamie Barron who earlier in the season had scored a late winner at Hanwell, but had been unlucky not to add to his goal tally in recent games.
For this match Winchester made four changes to the starting line-up from Tuesday with Josh Bertie, Callum Chugg, Luke King and Warren Bentley replacing Danny King, Callum Baughan, Jack Torniainen and Max Smith, with Danny King, Baughan, Torniainen and Smith all on the substitutes bench.
In the early stages of the game Tiverton's Ed James heads over following a corner, but the home side took the lead in the 5th minute when a cross from the right from Lucas Vowles was converted by Tiverton player of the year Niall Thompson. Winchester almost draw level when from just inside the Tiverton half Warren Bentley sees Tiverton goalkeeper Lewis Williams off his line, but his effort was just off target.
Jordi Valero in the Winchester goal had to make a save from Thompson, but Winchester draw level when Callum Chugg headed home a free kick from Jamie Barron.
During the remainder of the first half Valeri had to make further saves from Vowles and Tom Purrington with the save from Purrington being a particularly good one, while at the other end Joe Belsten made an excellent block to deny Warren Bentley with the Winchester forward poised to pull the trigger. However in added on time at the end of the first half Tiverton took the lead when Ed James headed home following a corner.
Having conceded a goal right at the end of the first half Winchester started the second half looking to find a way back into the game and came four minutes into the half when Jamie Barron scoring following a goalmouth scramble with initially Joe Belston making a goal line clearance. Winchester who at the interval bought on Callum Baughan to replace Callum Chugg and they almost scored a third, but Williams made an excellent save to deny I K Hill.
Midway through the second half Barron forces Williams to save with his feet and six minutes later Winchester bring on Max Smith to replace Luke King. It is King's last game before retirement and he had been appointed captain for the day. As King leaves the field he is given a standing ovation by the fans and the Winchester players form a guard of honour.
Ed James headed just wide following a corner, but Winchester took the lead through Ollie Balmer shortly after Tiverton had replaced Lewis Williams with Ollie Saunders in goal and two minutes later Jamie Barron makes no mistake from close range to put Winchester 4-2 ahead.
Shortly after scoring his second Barron his replaced by Ollie Griggs. Riverton's Dylan Jones has an attempt saved at the expense of a corner and Lucas Vowles shoots over, but Winchester were able to complete an excellent win on the road to complete the campaign.
In added on time a melee involving several players from both teams sees Ed James and Niall Thompson from Tiverton and Ollie Griggs from Winchester receive red cards.
Winchester organised a coach for this match which was well supported by fans. Winchester supporter Red Conway completed his 500th Winchester match at Plymouth earlier in the week and at Tiverton where the Winchester fans were again in good voice he dressed up for the occasion to add to the celebrations for the season by both players and fans having surpassed the expectations of many people this season.
The match between two previous F A Vase winners saw Winchester win 4-2 at Tiverton in their final league match of the season and end up in 18th position in a league of 22 teams. This result did not enable them to c,limb any places in the table, but enabled them to stay above Gosport who also won their final game of the season and finish just one point below Salisbury. The victory was also Winchester's first success in the current campaign having been behind at the interval.
This was their first ever league win against Tiverton in eight encounters with the previous seven producing four Tiverton wins ands three draws. Tiverton remain in 12th place, but they went into the match having conceded only one goal in their last four home league games, only on one previous occasion (against Salisbury in October) had they conceded four league goals in this campaign.
Earlier in the season Winchester had a run of 11 games without a win which briefly put them in the relegation places, with the home defeats against Tiverton and Salisbury being probably the most disappointing results in that sequence, and it is pleasing that in recent weeks both of these defeats have been avenged. In fact Winchester finished the season with 7 runs from their last 16 league campaign to ensure they well clear of the relegations.
A feature of Winchester's recent resurgence has been the return of last season's player who at the start of this season did not re-sign and two of these in Callum Chugg and Ollie Balmer were on the scoresheet against Tiverton. The other two goals were scored by Jamie Barron who earlier in the season had scored a late winner at Hanwell, but had been unlucky not to add to his goal tally in recent games.
For this match Winchester made four changes to the starting line-up from Tuesday with Josh Bertie, Callum Chugg, Luke King and Warren Bentley replacing Danny King, Callum Baughan, Jack Torniainen and Max Smith, with Danny King, Baughan, Torniainen and Smith all on the substitutes bench.
In the early stages of the game Tiverton's Ed James heads over following a corner, but the home side took the lead in the 5th minute when a cross from the right from Lucas Vowles was converted by Tiverton player of the year Niall Thompson. Winchester almost draw level when from just inside the Tiverton half Warren Bentley sees Tiverton goalkeeper Lewis Williams off his line, but his effort was just off target.
Jordi Valero in the Winchester goal had to make a save from Thompson, but Winchester draw level when Callum Chugg headed home a free kick from Jamie Barron.
During the remainder of the first half Valeri had to make further saves from Vowles and Tom Purrington with the save from Purrington being a particularly good one, while at the other end Joe Belsten made an excellent block to deny Warren Bentley with the Winchester forward poised to pull the trigger. However in added on time at the end of the first half Tiverton took the lead when Ed James headed home following a corner.
Having conceded a goal right at the end of the first half Winchester started the second half looking to find a way back into the game and came four minutes into the half when Jamie Barron scoring following a goalmouth scramble with initially Joe Belston making a goal line clearance. Winchester who at the interval bought on Callum Baughan to replace Callum Chugg and they almost scored a third, but Williams made an excellent save to deny I K Hill.
Midway through the second half Barron forces Williams to save with his feet and six minutes later Winchester bring on Max Smith to replace Luke King. It is King's last game before retirement and he had been appointed captain for the day. As King leaves the field he is given a standing ovation by the fans and the Winchester players form a guard of honour.
Ed James headed just wide following a corner, but Winchester took the lead through Ollie Balmer shortly after Tiverton had replaced Lewis Williams with Ollie Saunders in goal and two minutes later Jamie Barron makes no mistake from close range to put Winchester 4-2 ahead.
Shortly after scoring his second Barron his replaced by Ollie Griggs. Riverton's Dylan Jones has an attempt saved at the expense of a corner and Lucas Vowles shoots over, but Winchester were able to complete an excellent win on the road to complete the campaign.
In added on time a melee involving several players from both teams sees Ed James and Niall Thompson from Tiverton and Ollie Griggs from Winchester receive red cards.
Winchester organised a coach for this match which was well supported by fans. Winchester supporter Red Conway completed his 500th Winchester match at Plymouth earlier in the week and at Tiverton where the Winchester fans were again in good voice he dressed up for the occasion to add to the celebrations for the season by both players and fans having surpassed the expectations of many people this season.