Southern League South West Division

Winchester City 4

Shortwood United 3

By Jim Cunneen

SHORTWOOD boss Alex Sykes pointed the finger at individual mistakes as his side lost a seven-goal cracker at Winchester.

And Sykes was unhappy as Shortwood leaked four goals for the second successive match.

Sykes said: “Individual errors are costing us dear at the moment. Yet again we shouldn’t expect to go away and score three and not win the game.”

Once again the game was vastly entertaining and was an end-to-end thriller, but Sykes’ summation was accurate as the defence, which is normally so secure, is leaking goals at an alarming rate.

Winchester took the lead after only 45 seconds. Shortwood were caught out by a ball over the top and confusion between Rhys Lovett and the back-four allowed Craig Feeney to run on and lob the ball over Lovett.

Both sides looked likely to score every time they attacked and after 20 minutes Wood had a goal disallowed for offside when the home keeper flapped at a cross and Jake Lee rammed the ball home.

They were level after 25 minutes however. Ross Langworthy put the ball in to the box and although it appeared Will Morford was fouled as he went for it the ball broke to Nick Humphreys who fired home.

Virtually straight from the kick-off Winchester forced a corner and Stuart Mott headed home to restore the lead. Again Wood’s response was instant. Nick Humphreys crossed the ball and Langworthy headed home for 2-2.

The chances came thick-and-fast. Feeney rattled the bar and Lee forced the home keeper into a tremendous save.

Matt Bennett headed a good chance wide before Feeney scored Winchester’s third and his second with 42 minutes gone as he stripped the defence and slammed the ball home.

Within five minutes of the restart Feeney completed his hat-trick with a close range tap in at the far post and City then had a strong claim for a penalty waved away. Wood were back in it after 62 minutes when Morford put Lee in after evading a couple of challenges.

Wood pushed for an equaliser and Bennett had a header cleared off the line in the dying moments.

SHORTWOOD: Lovett, Humphreys B (Davies 73), Bennett, Lewis, Weeks, Hancock, Langworthy (Meredith 81), Mendes, Lee, Morford, Humphreys N (Price 88).

Star Man: Sam Mendes.

Next up: Tuesday, January 10, Shortwood v Salisbury City (Southern League Cup). Pitch inspection takes place, today, 2.30pm.