Winchester City suffered a heartbreaking defeat in added-on time as they went down 2-1 to Tiverton, losing away from home for the first time this season. As a result, Tiverton move up above Winchester, although Winchester have a game in hand.

Tiverton, who like Winchester City are former winners of the FA Vase last season, replaced long-serving manager Martyn Rogers with Leigh Robinson. They have made a slow start to the season, but they went into this match having won their most recent league game.  Robinson was the manager of the Taunton team who in 2017/18 won promotion to this level of football with a total of points and goals scored in three figures.

Winchester made one change to the starting line-up from Tuesday with I K Hill who scored the all-important goal at Hungerford replacing Jamie Barron.  The five Winchester substitutes Alex Wilkie, Jordan Rose, Harry Nevins, Dom Panesa-Dower and Ollie Balmer were all on the substitutes bench on Tuesday.

Winchester started brightly with Tommy Wright having an effort not far off target, I K Hill who was set up by Josh McCormick forced the Tiverton goalkeeper Zak Baker to save at the expense of a corner, and Luka Chalwell also forcing a save from Baker.  Winchester also had a possible penalty appeal turned down.

It was somewhat against the run of play when Tiverton took the lead in the 29th minute when a good run on the left-hand side by Dylan Jones produced a cross into the penalty box which resulted in Joe Parker shooting ho,e.  Parker had also scored two of Tiverton's three goals against Winchester last season.  The goal seemed to give Tiverton a lift and it required a good save from Luke Cairney to deny Parker a second.

Before halftime Winchester replaced the injured Kieran Douglas with Alex Wilkie, but it was to the home team at the break.

At half-time. Winchester bought on Ollie Balmer for Trevor Caborn and in the early part of the second half Cairney made a further save from Parker, while at the other end, Tommy Wright shot narrowly wide.  Winchester however drew level 5 minutes into the second half Ollie Balmer scored directly from the second of two successive corners won by the Winchester team.  IT was Balmer's third goal in 5 games with two of them coming within 20 minutes of coming on to replace Trevor Caborn.

After the goal, both goalkeepers were called into action with Cairney making an important interception to break up a Tiverton attack and Baker in the home goal saving an Ollie Balmer free kick.  Baker makes a couple of further good saves to keep Winchester out, while at the other end following a good run from Dylan Jones created a chance for Asa Hill who shot over when well placed.  

Winchester made further substitutions with Dom Panesar-Dower replacing Luka Chalwell and Harry Nevins replacing Ollie Griggs.  I K Hill had an effort blocked at the expense of a corner, but the match seemed to be heading for a 1-1 draw until goal creator Dylan Jones turned goal scorer when following a good run Dylan Jones cut inside and scored with a low shot in the second minute of added on time,

It was a harsh way for Winchester to suffer their first defeat in eight games and it was the second time in five games between the teams that Winchester had been beaten 2-1 by Tiverton with the winning goal in added on time.  Having made the long trip to Tiverton Winchester have another long trip on Tuesday when they travel to Merthyr meaning Winchester's three longest away league trips will have all been completed within a four-and-a-half week period and an FA Cup trip to Tavistock has been sandwiched between these group of matches.

After the trip to Merthyr Winchester are are at home to Weymouth in the FA Cup on Saturday.