1:04pm Thursday 17th July 2008
WINCHESTER City hosted a Saints XI studded with first team stars on Saturday but couldn't avoid a 5-0 defeat to Jan Poortvliet's new look side.
Over 1,000 fans poured into the Denplan City stadiumfor the game and saw Michael Svernsson make his long awaited comeback after virtually four years out with injury in a 5-0 win for Saints.
Having not seen him in Saints first team colours since a 1-1 draw against Hull in November 2005, most eyes were understandably on Svensson during the first half.
And after a slightly nervy start, he quickly proved he had no plans to coast his way through his pre-agreed 45 minute runout against the Southern League Division 1 South & West outfit.
An early full-blooded challenge on Brett Williams showed he was not afraid to put his body on the line.
And Svensson almost grabbed a goal to delight the travelling fans but his looping back-post header landed on top of the net rather than in it.
Saints were already 1-0 up by that point through Stern John, who marked his first pre-season outing by turning Jake Thomson's cutback past Andy Bayliss, via a deflection, on 13 minutes.
Right-back Jamie Hatch limped off on 34 minutes after taking a whack on the ankle after a mistimed tackle by Adam Lang.
His replacement, Jamie White, set the lively and overlapping Thomson - who reverted to right-back after Hatch's departure - clear and he centred for Oscar Gobern to bundle home the second at the far post.
Gobern was tripped in the box five minutes before the break to earn a penalty, which Jason Euell converted despite Bayliss getting two hands to the spotkick.
Joseph Mills made it 4-0 on 65 minutes after a clever one-two with Jason Euell down the left flank.
Dave Allen almost gave City's fans a souvenir but, after shrugging off Aarran Racine and racing through, Kelvin Davis flew to his right to superbly turn away his effort.
White rounded things off 10 minutes from time, converting from close range after Euell's stinging drive was parried by sub keeperWill Harvey to seal the win.
WINCHESTER CITY: Andy Bayliss, James Wilson, Adam Lang, Adam Grey, Matt Bowler, Steve Llewyan, James Eyles, James O'Keeffe, Brett Williams, Dave Allen, Kyle Joryeff. (Subs): Shane Lewis, Will Harvey, Moussa, Karl Foster, Ben Morgan, Rick Staples, Tom Butcher, Tom Riddell.
● Both City's first and reserve teams have a number of pre-season friendlies to come with the highlight being the visit of Watford on Sunday, July 27, kick off 3pm.
First team 19 July v Cowes Sports (a) 3pm 22 July v Wimbourne (a) 7.45pm 27 July v Watford (h) 3pm 29th July v Hamworthy United (a) 7.45pm 1 August v Bemerton (a) 7.45pm 9 August v Reserves (h), photoshoot and barbecue, 3pm Reserves 19 July Whitchurch United (a) 3 22 July v Downton (a) 7.45pm 26 July v US Portsmouth (h - at Couch Green) 3pm 29 v Andover New Street (a) 7.45pm 2 August AFC Portchester (a) 3pm
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