“ON our day there’s no one better than us,” declared Winchester City boss Paul Masters in the wake of Saturday’s 6-0 battering of Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

But if the Citizens are to achieve their goal of promotion from the Sydenhams Premier Division, Masters knows there can be no repeat of the miserable 1-0 defeat at bottom club Totton & Eling that preceded this runaway win.

“I’ve gone from being suicidal to being alright,” smiled Masters after goals from Warren Bentley (2), Geoff Dunn (2), Dom Cope and substitute Liam Robinson had blitzed a Bemerton outfit whose season has seemingly imploded since news went public of manager Ian Chalk’s impending departure.

This was the Harlequins’ sixth straight league defeat since mid-January and, in truth, they were totally outclassed by a Winchester side desperate to make amends not only for the Totton & Eling shocker, but for the ill-disciplined 3-1 loss at Whitchurch three days earlier.

“Last week hurt us. It hurt the club, it hurt the management and it hurt the players,” admitted Masters. “We didn’t say a lot before today’s game, we just made the point that it’s all about good players coming to the fore when things aren’t going right. We told them to just go out and play.

“We did that and, on our day, there’s no one better than us. We’ve just got to make sure that when it’s not our day we find a way not to lose football matches.

“If I’m honest, we were a bit unlucky at Totton & Eling, but they were very well organised and they frustrated us. In trying to win the game in the last five minutes, we’ve been caught on the break. “Petersfield have won again today (4-2 at Folland Sports) and the league is theirs to lose now, but there’s still second place to fight for. We’ve got a load of tough games coming up against Follands, Moneyfields and Blackfield, but I’m confident that if we perform like we did today we’ll beat anyone.

Reigning Wessex top gun Warren Bentley struck the first two blows on Saturday to shoot his season’s league and cup tally up to 40.

First he curled the ball exquisitely through a packed penalty area after Bemerton had only half-cleared Micky Hubbard’s eighth-minute corner and his second was laid on by bright, young spark Geoff Dunn’s energetic burst down the left.

After Dom Cope had buried Zach Glasspool’s free kick for 3-0 shortly after half-time, the outstanding Dunn netted twice, heading home Chris Mason’s high ball into the box before burying a simple tap-in after Heath ’keeper Max Frampton had parried successive shots by Taz Roberts and Adam Tomasso.

Dunn, a former Eastleigh youngster prised from Lymington Town, has won over many an admirer during his time at the Denplan City Ground.

“Geoff’s been out injured for the last two games and we’ve missed him,” said Masters. “We played a system today where he, Taz and Warren could inter-link a bit and they all looked really sharp.

“I’ve got a lot of time for Geoff, he’s very tidy on the ball and good without it. If he knuckles down he’s hopefully got a good future.”

Bemerton were not without chances. Jack Eaves, Jack Slade and Scott Joyce all gave City ’keeper Gareth Barfoot work to do and former Salisbury City skipper Aaron Cook sent a free header wide.

But, for the most part, the visitors struggled to deal with Winchester’s fluid attacking play and it came as no great surprise when, having hit the bar through soon-to-be-suspended substitute Charlie Smeeton, City struck again in stoppage time.

Sub Danilo Cadete, who had just fired a dream chance over, atoned by setting up Bentley for his hat-trick chance. Frampton intervened, but the ball fell nicely for sub Liam Robinson to round off the half dozen.

The landslide victory moves City six points behind second-placed Moneyfields – surprise 5-1 losers at Lymington Town – with a game in hand.

Masters’ men have no game this Saturday and return to league action tomorrow week (February 17) at home to Folland Sports.

Winchester intend taking a strong squad to Tadley Calleva tomorrow (Tuesday) in the North Hants Senior Cup semi-final. Overton United host Whitchurch United in the second semi on Wednesday. Winchester City: Gareth Barfoot, Adam Tomasso, Dom Cope, Micky Hubbard, Jamie Thoroughgood, Luke Dempsey, Adam ‘Taz’ Roberts (Charlie Smeeton, 63), Chris Mason (Liam Robinson, 75), Zach Glasspool, Warren Bentley, Geoff Dunn (Danilo Cadete, 66). Subs (not used) Callum Casson, Ryan Holloway.

Referee: I Bardsley Attendance: 122