WINCHESTER City’s 2-1 win over Hamworthy United on Saturday did not score highly in the style stakes.

But the pleasing aspect of City’s performance was their stomach for a fight.

“It was a scrappy affair and there’s nothing much to say about it other than we got the three points,” said manager Paul Masters.

“The pleasing thing is that we scrapped it out which is something we maybe haven’t done once or twice this season.”

Faced with a hard-working Hamworthy side, City were two goals to the good at half-time through Mike McEnery and Geoff Dunn.

The Hammers upped their game after the break, but City coped well with their physicality and, despite Dan Blackburn halving the deficit, held strong for a valuable win.

The result was all the more pleasing considering Winchester went into the game shorn of top scorer Warren Bentley, who had suffered a slight ankle problem at Blackfield & Langley in midweek, and unavailable centre-back Scott Sampson, who had work commitments.

With a bit more composure new signing Danilo Cadete from Blackfield could have built on City’s lead in the second half after replacing Adam Roberts.

Winchester also gave a debut off the bench to experienced midfielder Micky Hubbard, signed from Dorchester Town.

Hubbard, 27, was a well-known face on the Wessex circuit with Poole Town and has since played for Wimborne, Blackfield and Hamworthy.

“Micky’s not played a lot of football recently and it’s a case of seeing how fit he is,” said Masters.

“Numbers-wise we were short in that area and we’re going to have a look at him.

Saturday’s win keeps Winchester in fifth spot, 11 points adrift of leaders Moneyfields with two games in hand.

Their next two fixtures – away to AFC Portchester on Saturday and Moneyfields on Tuesday – should be a good indicator of their title chances.