TOTTON & Eling generated a Sydenhams shockwave of seismic proportions tonight, jolting Premier title hopefuls Winchester City 1-0 at Millers Park.
Steve Jenkin’s late strike ended an agonising ten-month wait for a league victory – the barren run stretching back to a 5-3 win over Verwood Town on April 5 last year.
Having defended heroically against a City side anxious to atone for Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Whitchurch, T&E piled on more misery for Paul Masters’s men by scoring with just over two minutes of normal time remaining.
Steve Marwood – one of several club stalwarts to have returned to the ranks this season – knocked the ball in to Sergio Caballero, signed from neighbours AFC Totton.
He threaded a pass through to match-winner Jenkin who got his shot away a split second before a defender arrived and watched on jubilantly as it rolled into the bottom corner.
T&E’s elation was diluted slightly when Adam Lowther was fouled and sent off for retaliation, but it was still a joyous occasion for the Millers who finally won at the 24th attempt this season, having previously banked just four of a possible 69 points.
Achieving it against a quality side like Winchester made it all the more satisfying with chairman/co-manager Andy Tipp smiling: “If you’re going to win, win big!”
With Petersfield easing three points clear of Moneyfields at the summit after a 4-0 home win over third-placed Whitchurch, Winchester are now 12 points off the title pace with a game in hand.
Tipp said: “Winchester had obviously got a rocket after Saturday and we were under the cosh when we scored.
“We defended for a lot of the second half and defended well. Our regular goalkeeper Nathan Goodger was injured so young Matty Fredericks, who’s dual-signed from Sholing, played and had his best game I’ve seen for us.
“We’ve added that bit of steel we needed with players like Marwood, Jenkin and Lowther coming back. A lot of them are coming towards the end of their careers, but we know what we’re going to get from them – and they don’t like losing!
“I had a little jog down the touchline when we scored and I’m proud of what the players did tonight. This win’s been a long time coming!”
Petersfield – promoted as Division One champions last season – now look to be the team to beat.
They led Whitchurch 1-0 at half-time with an Ashley Howes goal and, even after having ex-Sholing striker Warren Hunt sent off, went on to net three more through Danny Thompson, Dan Woodward and Andy Todd.
Horndean (Nathan Paxton, Harry Potter 2) beat Bemerton 3-1.
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