WINCHESTER City recorded their first league win of the season in a high-tempered affair against Evesham United.

City made one change to the starting line-up from Saturday, with Ollie Griggs replacing Dan Bradshaw who dropped to the bench.

After 10 minutes Rob Flooks made an important tackle to deny Evesham, while a mistake from the Winchester defence put Callum Ebanks through, but no-one could get a decisive touch to his cross.

Winchester also had a couple of dangerous attacks, but generally in the first 41 minutes there was not much work for the goalkeepers to do with the two teams cancelling each other out.

However that changed in the 41st minute when Josh McCormick scored with an excellently struck free kick.

Simba Mlambo had a good chance to score a second for Winchester before the interval, but he was not able to get his effort on target.

In the second half Charlie Philpott, who had a quiet first half in the Winchester goal, was tested on several occasions making a particularly good save from Ebanks, but Winchester were creating chances off their own and Mlambo coming close again, while Oli Bailey just failed to get a decisive touch following a flick on from Robbie Flooks following a free kick.

After a tackle from an Evesham player led to a mass melee, Evesham's Thomas Chamberlain was sent off.

Hampshire Chronicle: Evesham's Thomas Chamberlain is sent off. Pictures by Gary Marsh

The visitors soon make a double substitution and still looked threatening going forward, and Winchester were at that stage probably defending a bit too deeply.

Winchester make two substitutions themselves with Greg Peel replacing Oli Bailey and Alex Haynes coming on for Max Smith.

Shortly afterwards Mlambo made an excellent run in which he beat two players and saw his effort cleared off the line.

However Winchester had a great chance to score a second when Greg Peel was fouled in the box, but Ollie Balmer missed the resulting penalty.

With Evesham still playing with a lot of determination one sensed that the home team could regret this.

Winchester then made their third and final substitution with Dan Bradshaw replacing Ollie Griggs and they got the all important second when Ollie Balmer got on the end of a Simba Mlambo cross and that left Evesham with too much to do.

On Saturday Winchester are away to Slimbridge where they will replay the previously abandoned fixture and the following Wednesday they are away to Gosport Borough in the league cup providing the FA Cup tie between Gosport and Plymouth Parkway does not require a replay.