Winchester off base with key win

​Winchester edged themselves away from the automatic relegation place in South League Premier Division 1 with a vital 2-1 away win against basement side West Hampstead. 
The demanding weather conditions resulted in a scrappy affair, but Winchester were able to pull ahead within five minutes with a Craig Jeffrey [left] goal, the result of a scramble at a penalty corner after an initial Ben Hibberd attempt. 
Winchester then went two up as Adam Tollefsen found Harry Trussler down the right who in turn passed on to a wide Jeffrey, whose square ball across the "D" set up Kent Langridge perfectly to sweep home.
Generally, Winchester defended well although the in-form keeper/coach George Harris was brought increasingly into the game. 
With Winchester conceding an Angus Gillespie goal for West Hampstead, the result became less certain, and with the home team hitting the post late on, Harris & Co were happy to hear the final whistle.
The win takes Winchester to 16 points, three above Tunbridge Wells, with three games left to play.
Winchester II, meanwhile, remain undefeated in the current calendar year, with Henry Crompton and Stuart Swift sharing four of the goals in the 7-1 mauling of Hampshire League rivals Gillingham.   Josh Fiske, Robbie Craddock and Greg Cox (pictured) were also on target.

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