Winchester City's ground is now on course for promotion, but a disappointing home draw slowed the team's charge towards Ryman 1 yesterday.

With a new stand that conforms to promotion requirements all but completed, a season-high attendance of 372 ended up largely disappointed.

The result made it more of a mediocre Friday than a Good one for Winchester, although it could have been a lot worse, as they fell behind in the first half and were forced to hang on at the end.

Manager Neil Hards had to be satisfied with just the one well-earned point.

"To be honest I was happy to grab a point. I think it's a bit disrespectful to say that we played badly, because I think the opposition played well," said the City boss.

"They didn't come here to sit back and defend, they shut us down and they didn't give us time on the ball and all credit to them, I thought they were excellent today."

Fareham's surprise lead arrived in the 17th minute when James Lacey latched onto James Ford's flick-on to fire home from close range.

City were almost level in the 25th minute, when Graeme Gee's thumping header from Jamie Musselwhite's cross was superbly turned away by keeper Luke Douglas.

They did get back on level terms five minutes later, when Gary Green's defence-splitting pass released Musselwhite, who squared for Jamie Laidlaw to tap into an empty net.

In the second half, Gee should have put Winchester ahead, but pulled his shot wide from six yards.

In the end, Winchester were hanging on to the point which takes them four clear of Lymington & New Milton at the top of the Sydenhams Wessex League Division One.

Fareham substitute Lewis Fennemore had the best chance to win the game, but his shot from Warren Hunt's centre in the 80th minute skidded wide of the post with Alan Walker-Harris beaten.

Despite the draw, the club was pleased to see the crucial new 72-capacity stand almost open.

Commercial Officer Dick West said: "The beauty of this system is that it's a modular system so you can build on it and you can go right round the ground either with seated or standing. If that eventually occurs as you move up leagues you're going to get a very good looking ground."