THE Horndean hoodoo has struck again for Winchester City.

And this time it has knocked a dent into their Sydenhams Premier Division title hopes.

The Deans pulled off one of the shocks of the season last month by dumping 2004 winners City out of the FA Vase 3-0 at the Denplan City Ground.

After half an hour on Saturday it looked highly doubtful that history would repeat itself when Mike McEnery fired Winchester 2-0 up after Warren Bentley had struck from the penalty spot following Taz Roberts’ mazy run.

But the Deans pulled one back before the break and, even the blow of having former City goalkeeper Lyall Beazley stretchered off with a suspected broken collar bone failed to faze them as they outmuscled and outgunned Winchester after the break.

Two goals in three minutes just after the hour mark turned the game on its head and any hope City had of salvaging the situation disappeared when Luke Dempsey was sent off for denying the Deans a clear scoring chance.

Winchester thought they had won a second penalty when Adam Tomasso was brought down in the box, but the referee waved away their protests.

The ten men continued to press but, once again, a number of decent chances went begging and, right at the death, Zach Glasspool was denied by a brilliant save.

The defeat – inflicted by deadly Deans trio Ashley Harris, Rob Pittman and Mark Smith – leaves City sixth, 11 points behind leaders Moneyfields with two games in hand.

“If I’m honest, we went 2-0 up without playing particularly well, but we also missed four or five really good chances. It was one of those games we could have won 10-5,” reflected City boss Paul Masters.

“But we were poor in both penalty areas and conceded some bad goals. The backbone of a good side is a strong defensive unit and that’s not just the defenders, it’s the whole team.

“We’re a work in progress.”

Winchester turn their focus to the Hampshire FA Senior Cup tonight away to their old boss John Robson’s Blackfield & Langley. Charlie Smeeton is suspended, while Scott Sampson, Josh Green and Gareth Barfoot are all cup-tied.