Winchester put a small spoke in the wheels of Trojans' seemingly unstoppable surge towards the Hampshire/Surrey Regional League championship when they held the undefeated leaders 1-1 at Stoneham Lane.

It was only the second time in 13 goal-strewn matches that Trojans had failed to win - seven successive victories having followed the previous blip, a 3-3 draw with Old Whitgiftians in late October.

"Winchester were a much improved side and showed a lot more commitment than when we beat them 8-3 earlier in the season," praised Trojans captain Campbell Williams.

Winchester's tactical ploy of leaving their forwards high up the pitch to discourage Trojans from launching moves from their wing backs proved effective.

"It meant we were able to hold our own and not become encamped in our own half," explained Winchester team manager Jon Player.

That tactic didn't stop Trojans attacking, but Winchester looked dangerous as well, particularly while the ball was in Andy Winnett's possession. His 12th-minute pass to Robbie Craddock on the left-hand side of the D allowed the Winchester striker to side-step a defender and bury a shot past Trojans keeper Steve Cole.

Craddock almost scored a second five minutes later, but on the half-hour Trojans were level - Wayne Shepherd equalising from a penalty corner which followed a period of sustained home pressure.

The second half was a ratio of roughly two Trojans goal attempts to every Winchester one - but keeping duo Cole and Craig Falkingham kept their respective goals intact.

Winnett almost snatched a second half winner for Winchester, only to be denied by a last-ditch save, while at the other end it was the one-time Andover man who rescued his own side as Trojans almost stole it late on.

"Overall, we under-performed," Williams said. "But credit to Winchester, whose work rate was phenomenal."

The result trimmed Trojans' lead at the top to two points and leaves the Stoneham club keen to restore their winning touch in Battersea Park against leaky London Edwardians, who boast the worst defensive record in the Regional League.

"We'll be having a good workout at training tomorrow evening," Williams said.

"After we play Edwardians, there's some crucial games coming up and, after the great start we've made, we don't want to be messing things up now."

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