WHITCHURCH inflicted something of a dent in Winchester’s promotion hopes on Saturday when they avenged the earlier defeat at the Denplan with a 3-1 victory.

The game was at times fractious on a playing surface that was heavy at one end following the overnight snow but the home side showed considerable grit and determination to secure the points andmove to third place in the table.

The visitors made the brighter start with Mitch Fear stopping Taz Roberts in the area and Josh Harfield clearing a loose ball as Zach Glasspool moved in.

Both sides were already experiencing difficulties with the strong wind but Whitchurch were still on the back foot as Taurean Maunders robbed Warren Bentley in the act of shooting and keeper Brad Snelling held on to a corner in a crowded six yard box.

A minor fracas in front of the dugouts resulted in bookings for the home side’s Jack McCarthy and Winchester’s Micky Hubbard and before play could restart a member of the Winchester management team was ordered from the dugout.

Whitchurch’s first real threat on goal saw a Ryan Lambert shot rebound of the post with Chris Manning hooking the loose ball over the bar.

Snelling made two saves in quick succession before Whitchurch, against the run of play, took the lead on 25 minutes.

Lambert won the ball on the right and sent Manning clear and the midfielder’s low cross was slotted home by Danny Phillips for his 18th goal of the season.

The lead lasted just ten minutes as Snelling tipped a free-kick over the bar and, with the home side failing to clear their lines from the corner, defender Jamie Thoroughgood forced the ball home.

Winchester found the net again only for a raised flag to halt the celebrations.

Harfield blocked a Roberts shot and then halted Bentley at the expense of a corner before another flare-up saw Charlie Smeeton dismissed after a tangle with Adam Pearson.

Philips and Manning gave way to Tom Lockyer and Nathan Gray and the home side enjoyed a spell of pressure with Manning just wide and Austin striking the crossbar from outside the area. Scott Hassall became the third Whitchurch substitute as he replaced Danny Barker before the home side took the lead.

Harfield, Lockyer and Gray playing some good football in the heaviest area of the pitch created the opening, Gray’s shot rebounded off the post and Lockyer reacted the quickest to turn the loose ball over the line.

Another flare-up by the dugouts resulted in a second yellow card for McCarthy and a second member of the Winchester management team being removed from the technical area. With time running out the home side made the game safe as Austin ran on to a through ball and despite colliding with Barfoot and losing his boot managed to steer the ball into the net.

A good win for the home side and a possibly damaging result for Winchester but a game in which the relationship between the players, management teams and the officials left a lot to be desired.