Post by malcolm on Sept 10, 2023 18:08:54 GMT 1
inchester suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of a Didcot Town team who winning their first league match of the season. Winchester's frustration was compounded by the fact that they missed two second half penalties.
The match was the first between the two clubs since the 2017/18 season when Winchester won both encounters with Jamie Barron's wonderful goal from the halfway line in the home fixture lingering in the memories of many people. The two clubs also met ibn the successive seasons of 2015/16 and 2016/17 and both clubs are former F A Vase winners with Winchester winning in 2003/04 and Didcot doing so in 2004/05.
Winchester made five changes to the starting line-up from the previous Saturday with Jasper Sheikh replacing Charlie Philpott in goal, and Simba Mlambo, Ollie Griggs, Danny King and Tommy Wright replacing Josh McCormick, Max Smith, Ollie Balmer and Conor Lynch with McCormick, Balmer and Lynch on the substitutes bench.
Early on Adam Learoyd has a header just target, but the home team took the lead in the 12th minute when Seth Humphries was played in, took time to steady himself before scoring with a well placed shot At the other end Tommy Wright tried to lob the Leigh Bedwell in the home goal, but his effort was just off target. In the latter stages of the first half Bedwell made a good save to deny Dan Jones,, while Sheikh made good saves to deny Robbie Gallagher and and Andi Noka, saving from the latter at the expense of a corner. However after a first half in which the hot weather a couple of drinks breaks were a feature Winchester were 1-0 behind at the interval.
Early in the second half Mlambo was fouled by Cameron McNeill, but Tommy Wright fires his penalty kick over the bar. Shortly after this penalty miss Winchester bought on Jordan Rose for Ollie Griggs and later Conor Lynch for Wright. Midway through the second half there was another drinks break and Didcot substitute Patrick Osborne forces a save from Sheikh shortly after the resumption, but as the half progresses Winchester begin to pile on the pressure in search of an equalizer. Following a corner that eluded everyone saw a shot fizz over the bar and Lynch managed to break clear of the home defence,, but his effort was narrowly wide.
With five minutes to go Winchester were awarded a second penalty. this time for a foul on Lynch, but Bedwell made an excellent save from Lynch's spot kick. Winchester came close again on more than one occasion after the second penalty save, but despite several minutes of added on time and goalkeeper Sheikh corner in the latter stages they could not find a leveller.
Despite the result Didcot remain in the relegation zone and below Winchester in the table, but having last season achieved some good results against teams that finished below them in the table it was disappointing to go down to a team who to their credit worked hard for their success, but certainly with two penalties missed one could certainly say that Winchester had chances to score.
D
Manager Craig Davis praised the supporters for their vocal backing during the game.
On Tuesday Winchester are away to Havant and Waterlooville in the Hampshire Senior Cup and on Saturday away to Reading City in the F A Cup. If there is no replay in the F A Cup they are play at home to Walton and Hersham in a replay of the match that was abandoned on the first day of the season.
The match was the first between the two clubs since the 2017/18 season when Winchester won both encounters with Jamie Barron's wonderful goal from the halfway line in the home fixture lingering in the memories of many people. The two clubs also met ibn the successive seasons of 2015/16 and 2016/17 and both clubs are former F A Vase winners with Winchester winning in 2003/04 and Didcot doing so in 2004/05.
Winchester made five changes to the starting line-up from the previous Saturday with Jasper Sheikh replacing Charlie Philpott in goal, and Simba Mlambo, Ollie Griggs, Danny King and Tommy Wright replacing Josh McCormick, Max Smith, Ollie Balmer and Conor Lynch with McCormick, Balmer and Lynch on the substitutes bench.
Early on Adam Learoyd has a header just target, but the home team took the lead in the 12th minute when Seth Humphries was played in, took time to steady himself before scoring with a well placed shot At the other end Tommy Wright tried to lob the Leigh Bedwell in the home goal, but his effort was just off target. In the latter stages of the first half Bedwell made a good save to deny Dan Jones,, while Sheikh made good saves to deny Robbie Gallagher and and Andi Noka, saving from the latter at the expense of a corner. However after a first half in which the hot weather a couple of drinks breaks were a feature Winchester were 1-0 behind at the interval.
Early in the second half Mlambo was fouled by Cameron McNeill, but Tommy Wright fires his penalty kick over the bar. Shortly after this penalty miss Winchester bought on Jordan Rose for Ollie Griggs and later Conor Lynch for Wright. Midway through the second half there was another drinks break and Didcot substitute Patrick Osborne forces a save from Sheikh shortly after the resumption, but as the half progresses Winchester begin to pile on the pressure in search of an equalizer. Following a corner that eluded everyone saw a shot fizz over the bar and Lynch managed to break clear of the home defence,, but his effort was narrowly wide.
With five minutes to go Winchester were awarded a second penalty. this time for a foul on Lynch, but Bedwell made an excellent save from Lynch's spot kick. Winchester came close again on more than one occasion after the second penalty save, but despite several minutes of added on time and goalkeeper Sheikh corner in the latter stages they could not find a leveller.
Despite the result Didcot remain in the relegation zone and below Winchester in the table, but having last season achieved some good results against teams that finished below them in the table it was disappointing to go down to a team who to their credit worked hard for their success, but certainly with two penalties missed one could certainly say that Winchester had chances to score.
D
Manager Craig Davis praised the supporters for their vocal backing during the game.
On Tuesday Winchester are away to Havant and Waterlooville in the Hampshire Senior Cup and on Saturday away to Reading City in the F A Cup. If there is no replay in the F A Cup they are play at home to Walton and Hersham in a replay of the match that was abandoned on the first day of the season.