A GOAL from Danny Phillips deep into second half stoppage time secured all three points for Whitchurch at a windy Arlebury Park on Tuesday as the Jamboys bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at Winchester to rejoin Petersfield at the top of the table.

Whitchurch were without the injured Scott Hassall, while Adam Pearson was on the bench along with new signing Lerone Plummer, as the game kicked off with a bitterly cold wind swirling round the ground, writes John Gorman.

The home side claimed the lead with 25 minutes gone when Dan Strange’s run ended with the ball pulled back into Fox’s path and the striker beat Snelling from 12 yards. The lead lasted just five minutes as a corner was deftly headed past Hixon by Phillips.

Pearson replaced the injured Cole Hinchcliffe for the second half and was quickly in the action with a thumping header that shaved the angle of cross and bar before Whitchurch took the lead for the first time. A McCarthy freekick was headed clear, but only as far as Jack Garner whose shot from 25 yards flew past the stranded Hixon.

Alresford enjoyed a spell of pressure that was rewarded with an equalising goal 12 minutes from time. The Whitchurch defence left a through ball and Tom Riddell’s cool finish gave Snelling no chance.

The home side survived a scramble in their area during which at least four shots were blocked but Whitchurch were not to be denied and when Pearson sent Mansell away on the left the cross was touched on by Garner for Phillips to drive home at the far post to give him goal number 12 for the season and Whitchurch three more points in what was a very entertaining game given the conditions.