Times are brighter for City (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Times are brighter for City

5:25pm Wednesday 4th March 2009

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Torrential rain meant Winchester City were forced to dip out on a rare opportunity to record two wins on the trot on Tuesday.

The basement club had hoped to clock up another three precious points against mid-table Paultons Rovers after their wonderful 2-1 victory over Burnham last Saturday.

That victory brought a bright end to the week for City after losing out to Andover and Bishop’s Cleeve during the week.

And they announced more good news with the arrival of ex-Fisher, Bognor and Dorchester striker Jones Awuah to go along with another two new faces – frontman Mike McEnery and Ghana-born former England under-16 and Spurs under-17 defender Nathan Peprah-Annan.

Saturday’s match gave City fans the first opportunity of seeing Robbie Elliott’s newcomers in action.

The opening exchanges were even with play flowing from goal to goal but gradually City settled and began to look dangerous. Leon Osei floated over a corner and Peprah-Annan went close with an overhead kick. In the next attack Taylor Morgan managed to get in a shot but this was saved.

City could not relax however, and Clint Davies made a diving save to relieve the pressure.

Taylor and Osei were beginning to cause Burnham problems on the flanks and a penetrating run from the former saw his cross headed for a corner. His next run produced a cross to Mike McEnery and his shot was knocked back across the box where Osei slammed it home (21st minute) from 20 yards for one of the best goals seen at the Denplan City Stadium this season.

City dominated the remaining period of the half and some good interplay between Taylor and Adam Kelly looked to have created the second goal but the Burnham keeper managed to block the shot with his feet.

At the beginning of the second half Osai set up Matt Palmer but his shot was just over the bar.

On the hour Osai took a knock and was replaced by Helder Rodrigues as City continued to press. McEnery found himself in the clear but probably had too much time to decide what to do and whilst he hesitated the ball was whipped off his feet.

Burnham were not beaten however and a loose ball in the City box was driven in and again Davies was called upon to make a good save. He was powerless , however, to stop a corner being headed in from close range in the 59th minute to even the game up.

This setback made City more determined and McEnery put in a great shot which brought a wonderful one-handed save from Sam Southerden, the Burnham keeper.

The break trough came out of the blue. The ball was pushed out of the penalty area from a City corner and Palmer following up hit a magnificent shot from almost 30 yards that rocketed into the net (74th minute) surpassing Osei’s goal in the first half.

Kelly received a knock in the 85th minute and was replaced by Adam Saunders as City played out for the win but not without a final scare when the ball was skyed after a Burnham player had worked his way into the box with only Davies to beat.

City: Clint Davies, Scott Gillham, Jono Richardson, Nathan Peprah-Annan, Connor McCarthy, Andy Borthwick, Matt Palmer, Adam Kelly, Taylor Morgan, Mike McEnery, Leon Osei, Subsititutes Lee Burch, Royce Reed, Danny King, Helder Rodrigues (52nd), Adam Saunders 85th) * This Saturday City face Cirencester at the Denplan City Stadium, kick off 3pm.

See this week's Hampshire Chronicle for more sport

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