East Cowes Vics 0, Winchester City 5

WINCHESTER City staked their strong claims to lifting the league title this season with this crushing win over one of their main rivals on Tuesday night, writes Ian Henderson.

The comfortable way in which they disposed of last season's runners up suggests that the title race may already be over - with the season not yet at the halfway stage.

City now head East Cowes Vics by nine points and have dropped only two points from a possible 42 so far this season.

But manager John Robson isn't getting carried away.

"There's still a very long way to go and football has a habit of kicking you in the teeth," he said.

"Of course I'm delighted at our position, but that could change if we suffered some serious injuries and suspensions.

"We have a great squad of players here, but I'm not counting any chickens just yet. It would be nice to go into the New Year still on top, but we'll just wait and see."

Robson rates Poole Town and Vospers as City's principal challengers for the league trophy.

"With great respect to East Cowes, I don't see them finishing in the top two even though they've beaten the others," he said.

City's continuing involvement in five cup competitions could prove a hindrance if the winter weather causes the usual fixture pile-up. But the manager is clear where his priorities lie.

"I'd swap all of them for winning this league and pitting ourselves against the sides in the Wessex League next season," he said.

"It would be superb for the club and the city if we could go all the way in the FA Vase, but promotion is our main aim."

A Matt Bicknell penalty after just eight minutes opened the floodgates against the Vics after Jason Ahmet had been pulled down.

Michael Jackson headed home City's 100th competitive goal of the season soon after and influential skipper Danny Smith, formerly with AFC Bournemouth, curled in a shot from the edge of the area to make it 3 - nil after half an hour.

He was on target again 13 minutes from time, and substitute Paul Nelson headed home Bicknell's cross for the fifth goal to round off a decisive win.

The only surprise was that top scorer Andrew Forbes was not on the scoresheet. But he did have an 'assist' in several of the goals.