WESSEX pacemakers Winchester City have three new players on their books for tomorrow's title showdown against Gosport Borough at the Denplan City Ground.

The FA holders have swooped for experienced Bashley duo Mat Jones and Graeme Gee hot on the heels of signing 18-year-old former Eastleigh starlet Robbie Chamberlain from Basingstoke Town.

It was Winchester supremo David Malone who originally took Jones to Bashley from Eastleigh during his time as chairman of the New Forest club.

He has remained a big admirer of the 28-year-old defender/midfielder and sees him as the ideal replacement for rearguard general Mark Blake, who quit City for Eastleigh two weeks ago.

While dependability is Jones's middle name, midfielder Gee is more of an enigma. The 32-year-old from Portsmouth has stacks of ability but doesn't always use it.

"Mat's a great signing for us. He's everything I like in a footballer," said Malone.

"As for Graeme, if he puts his mind to it there's nobody better, but, if he doesn't fancy it, there's nobody worse. No one could question his ability, but if he wants to earn a contract next season he's got to prove he can do it."

Malone has wasted no time reinvigorating the league leaders since returning to the ranks this week and he wants no more of the negative talk that abounded when he quit as director of football/vice-chairman in November.

In that respect, he has a high regard for tomorrow's opponents Gosport, who rarely get drawn into Wessex tittle-tattle.

Malone said: "Gosport are a credit to the league. They just get on with their business and I've got a lot of respect for them.

"I think it's good to get publicity as long as it's for the right reasons and Gosport go about it in the proper way. They don't shout and holler about what they're doing and they don't talk about other clubs.

"Football-wise, though, I still believe we're better than they are and we need to prove that tomorrow."

City will again be without midfielder Mark Smith, who has medial ligament damage, while striker Ian Mancey is highly doubtful after a having a minor operation on a leg vein last week.

Fourth-placed Gosport - nine points adrift of the leaders with two games in hand - have lost experienced defender Bjay Green for six weeks after a knee operation while wideman Perry Holland has suspected broken ribs. The plus point is having midfielder Mark Tryon fit again.