Southern League

South West Division

Shortwood United 2

Winchester City  4

By Harry Ash

NEW Shortwood boss Paul Meredith insists his team need time to gel.

Earlier, Meredith gave debuts to 10 players, including Forest Green loan duo Harry Pickering and Jordan Morris, with Pickering catching the eye and Morris scoring a late consolation goal.

However, Wood were undone by Patrick Cox who helped himself to a hat-trick.

“We started quite well, with what is a completely new side,” said boss Meredith.

“There were positives, and it was good to see that we didn’t lose our heads. It will get better. The team needs time to gel and get an understanding.”

Shortwood started promisingly, but perhaps should have conceded a penalty with just seven minutes played after Nathan Marks seemed to handle when controlling a high ball in the penalty area.

Wood almost took the lead after 16 minutes, with Alex Kibble unlucky to see his shot hit the underside of the bar.

Winchester, having looked unsettled for 15 minutes, opened the scoring after 20 minutes; Tomasso found Bailey, who, despite being surrounded by defenders, controlled smartly and finished past Pickering.

With ten minutes of the half remaining, a brilliant point blank save from Pickering denied Pat Cox, and the Shortwood keeper was again called into action from the resulting corner; this time Flocks was denied after a back post header.

Winchester thought they had doubled their lead with 43 minutes played, but Jenkinson was in an offside position when he tapped in the rebound from Tomasso’s saved shot.

The away side added their second six minutes into the second-half when Bailey threaded through to Cox, who guided the ball into the far corner.

Just four minutes later, a fine Barron cross found an unmarked Cox, who headed home. Levi Cox had a golden opportunity with 65 minutes gone, but he blazed his effort over the bar having been found in space by Morris.

With 15 minutes remaining, Winchester added their fourth when Bailey again found Pat Cox, who completed his hat-trick with a calm finish. Levi Cox replied a minute later, heading into an open net after Harley Price hit the post with a shot from 20 yards.

Morris completed the scoring in the last moments of the match with a lob over the onrushing Pryce, having been found by substitute Hathaway.

SHORTWOOD: Pickering, Marks (Noakes 63), Prictor, Meredith R, Thwaite, Kibble (Price H),Price A, Fogg, Blackhah (Hathaway 58), Morris, Cox.

Star Man: Harry Pickering.

Attendance: 96.

Next up: Tuesday, Augst 15 - Bristol Manor Farm v Shortwood Utd (7.30pm).