A SUPERB solo goal from Pa Touray midway through an enthralling second-half gave Whitchurch United a 2-1 victory at Pewsey Vale on Tuesday night and lifted them to fifth in the Wessex League Division One.

It was no more than they deserved after a night when manager Jim Macey had to change tactics more than once and his side were forced to endure an agonising eight minutes of injury time.

“We deserved the win but we were a bit lazy in the first-half and I let them know it,” admitted Macey after, adding: “The second half was a battle and I am obviously pleased with the result.”

The Jamboys went with a five man midfield to attempt to counter the flair of the home side, who have recovered from a poor start to the campaign and now hover just below the top six, and after Sam Argent tested home goalkeeper Louie Latouche, ‘Church stopper Tom Hindmarsh brought out a fabulous fingertip save to deny David Cope.

Whitchurch took the lead just short of the half-hour mark when Argent was bundled over in the box and he made no mistake from the spot, making it three in three for the young striker.

Pewsey responded with Tom Ritchie rattling the bar with a curling half-volley and Adam Everiss went close before Argent missed from close range when he should have done better.

Adam Pearson cleared a header off the line near the break as Whitchurch were full value for their lead.

Macey introduced Paul Coventry soon after the re-start as the team changed formation from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 but the home side went close from Dan Sloan.

Coventry and Argent then tested LaTouche but when the ball broke in midfield Touray was on hand to instinctively lob him from way out and that seemed to be the game.

Pewsey had other ideas, however, and within two minutes the impressive Ritchie had nodded in a Sloan corner to make it 2-1.

Play was now end-to-end and with the best move of the game Isaac Sedu escaped down the right and fired in a cross which Coventry just failed to meet.

“Pa owed us that goal,” said Macey after the game. “He hasn’t had the best of seasons but that was special. I stuck Paul Coventry on early to frighten them and that seemed to work.”

On Saturday, ‘Church go to Petersfield, who are five points ahead of them but have played a game more, and they expect to have Ashley Childs and Reio Francis available again.

Then, on Tuesday, they travel to Fleet Town for their Basingstoke Senior Cup tie quarter-final tie.

Macey said: “We will certainly give it a go and I hope they under estimate us. We have them again in the North Hants Cup semi and we now know the winners will face Alresford.”