WINCHESTER City have suffered a cruel, early blow in their bid to recapture the glory days of 2003/04.

With the new season just five minutes old, Lloyd Webber – one of the FA Vase/League/ Cup treble-winning heroes of a decade ago – broke his wrist in two places.

The versatile defender/midfielder was the first to sign for Winchester when returning director of football Dave Malone and new manager Graham Kemp began a summer recruitment drive designed to put last year’s Southern League nightmare season firmly behind the cathedral city club.

But after working hard during the summer to get himself in shape, Webber’s first game back was over in a flash as he fell backwards under a typically keen Moneyfields challenge during Saturday’s 0-0 Sydenhams Premier stalemate.

Moneys’ streetwise striker Steve Hutchings charged in to challenge Webber, knocking the former Andover, Basingstoke and Follands man off balance.

Webber instinctively put his right hand down to break his fall, inflicting one fracture just behind his thumb and one on the other side of his wrist.

He was taken straight to Winchester A&E and is due back at hospital today to see if an operation is necessary.

“It’s a real shame for everyone, but for Lloyd especially,” admitted Kemp. “He’s been so excited to be back and to last just five minutes is disappointing.”

The one consolation was the performance of Webber’s replacement Matt Scott, who instantly made himself at home in the heart of the City defence.

Scott performed so well for Downton last season that he was named manager’s player-of-the-year by Robins boss Jeff Softley who described him as “strong” and “a winner with great attitude.”

Those attributes shone through as City’s defence did well to tame the threat of ex-AFC Bournemouth man Hutchings who has bulldozed his way to nearly 50 Wessex goals over the last two seasons.

City’s Karl Yelland took an early booking for fouling Hutchings who, for 90 minutes, never ceased to try and get under the opposition’s skin.

But City stood up to it well and Hutchings’ only real threat came in the closing minutes when his menacing free kick from the left corner of the area slithered out of goalkeeper Ross Casey’s grasp and was scrambled away for a corner.

If Moneyfields had had their way, it would have been a penalty rather than a free kick with their bench convinced the foul on sub Jay Ripiner had been at least a yard inside the box.

That minor blemish apart, ex-AFC Totton youngster Casey matched his vastly experienced opposite number Dave Hook save for save.

After Scott had tested Hook at one end, young Casey did brilliantly well to tip over Conor Bailey’s thumping free kick at the other.

Hook – a former City keeper – then took centre stage on the stroke of half-time, blocking Scott’s powerful downward header on the line before watching with relief as the sub lashed the rebound over.

Hook excelled again in the second half to snuff out Russell Cook at his near post before using his age-defying reflexes to somehow push the ball over and deny dangerman Chris Flood an almost certain goal.

“It was a very even game and no one deserved to win,” summed up Moneyfields’ boss Miles Rutherford.

Kemp agreed: “It was a decent start for us though. Moneyfields are an established team and we’re still gelling, but I was pleased with our work ethic.

“We stuck together, we didn’t throw the towel in and we defended well and restricted them to two or three chances.

“We’ve got a point on the board early doors and there’s no disgrace in drawing with Moneyfields.”

Winchester City: Ross Casey, Dan Thompson, Danny King, Adam Tomasso, Lloyd Webber (Matt Scott, 6), Karl Yelland, Tom Price (Ben Osborne, 60), Liam Green (Scott Sanderson, 65), Russell Cook, Chris Flood, Chris Mason. Subs: Callum Casson, Jamie Austen.