Whitchurch United 2 Winchester City 1.

If Nic Turpin felt he had a point to prove then he proved it at Whitchurch on Thursday evening.

Released by Winchester earlier in the season, the Andover-based striker scored both goals as the home side came from behind to claim a double over their illustrious rivals.

Whitchurch included goalkeeper Ashley West from Thatcham and Tom Mundy from Laverstock and Ford in their starting lineup with a third newcomer, Dominic Friel, on the bench and found themselves under early pressure as the visitors made the brighter start.

City keeper Ross Casey went down at Shane Lock’s feet before West was tested by a back pass from Ally Brown that he was forced to head to safety. A 60yard run by Isaac Sedu was stopped by a well timed challenge from John Borg and Casey did well to claim a Luke Walker corner under pressure as the game was end to end but without any real threat on either.

It took less than a minute of the second half for Winchester to break the deadlock.

West palmed away a corner but the defence failed to clear the ball and James Ford’s low shot from the edge of the area found its in. Scott Hassall sent Turpin clear only for Leigh Mills to make the challenge but within seven minutes the striker had better luck. The home defence failed to get the ball away after Whitchurch had made progress down the right Turpin coolly slid the ball past the advancing Casey to bring the scores level. Just past the hour Sedu made the running and his low cross was missed by the defence and Turpin lashed it high into the net from 12 yards giving the stranded Casey no chance.

Tom Lockyer came on from Walker and when Turpin and Lock combined again the latter forced the ball past Casey only for Mills to clear off the line. At the other end Sam Wilson was too high with a header and West bravely went down in a crowded area to claim a low cross from Callum Casson. Mundy looked like marking his debut with a goal but was denied by a last ditch challenge from ex-Lion Lloyd Webber after more good work from Lock and Turpin then Casey again saved at Lock’s feet and Winchester’s last attack saw Adam Pearson – a formidable central partnership with Matt Scott -stop Wilson in his tracks on the edge of the area.

After a couple of poor results this was a good win over a side in the top three in a game played in good spirit, well refereed and not a yellow card in sight.