City hit the goal trail against league strugglers

Whitchurch Utd 0, Winchester City 8

WESSEX League newcomers City have hit the jackpot this week, following their 7-2 thrashing of Blackfield on Saturday with an even heavier victory over perennial strugglers Whitchurch.

Once David Goss's looping header had given City a second-minute lead at Longmeadow on a chilly Tuesday night, there was never the slightest doubt about the outcome.

Already missing several key players, things got worse for Whitchurch when striker James Scrivens limped off after just five minutes' play.

Matt Bicknell cut in from the left to double City's advantage on 15 minutes, and with United keeper Dave Smalley in uncharacteristically uncertain form, Andy Forbes capitalised on his fumble to make it 3-nil on the half-hour.

The one-way traffic continued in the second half, Forbes nodding in a rebound at the far post and then completing his hat-trick with another header from Lloyd Webber's cross on 65 minutes.

Three goals in the last six minutes sealed United's fate. City had welcomed back striker Ian Mancey after a lengthy suspension, but the big man took his time to mark his mark on the game. However, a crisp far-post finish and a textbook header to an Adam Rogers cross eventually earned him two goals in as many minutes.

Michael Dean scored the eighth in the dying seconds, but there was still time for Mancey to rap the post with another header that would have given him a hat-trick of his own.

For United, striker Andy Hackett foraged hard, and City keeper Joe McCormack was forced into saves from Paul Roffey, Ben Andrews and Steve Williams, but there was no disguising City's superiority.

City: McCormack, Rogers, Bicknell, Waite, Goss, Blake, Webber, Brewster, Mancey, Forbes, Dean. Subs (not used); Dyke, D Smith, Lang.

Blackfield & Langley 2, Winchester City 7

The only disappointment for City on Saturday was that their once rarely-breached rearguard has now conceded fourteen goals in eight league and cup matches.

City opened the scoring after 14 minutes when home goalkeeper Paul Bowers failed to clear and knocked the ball into the path of Danny Smith, who casually lofted it back over the keeper's head.

The visitors added their second on 28 minutes when Smith was bundled over by Bowers and Andy Forbes sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Two minutes later, Kevin Brewster's corner kick led to David Goss stabbing the ball home at the second attempt.

Scrappy defending allowed Michael Collins to net for the home side after thirty-nine minutes, but two minutes later City restored their three-goal lead when Brewster found Smith, who knocked the ball home.

Michael Dean added the fifth six minutes into the second period but, minutes later, Andy McIsaac again took full advantage of more slack City defending and netted a second for the Watersiders.

The game could have become closer had substitute Jake Voller's effort been allowed to stand six minutes later. Matt Bicknell, Brewster and Forbes then combined with Forbes adding the finishing touch before substitute Lloyd Webber completed the scoring in the last minute.

Tomorrow (Saturday 18th) City make a first ever trip to Portland for a Wessex League fixture (3pm). The Reserves are away to Eastleigh Comrades in the Southampton Senior Cup (2.30pm).