WINCHESTER CITY 2 BISHOPS CLEEVE 1.

OLI BAILEY struck in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to earn Winchester City a last-gasp 2-1 win over bottom club Bishops Cleeve this afternoon.

The Evo-Stik South West encounter saw both sides reduced to ten men with 13th-minute Bailey’s early opener cancelled out by Cleeve’s Joe Bates.

City piled on the early pressure, threatening inside two minutes when Pat Cox’s drilled shot from Bailey’s lay-off was turned behind for a corner.

Then, having got squarely behind Andy Jenkinson’s free-kick, visiting keeper Sam Gilder had a couple of testing high balls to collect.

At the other end, City stopper Ryan Pryce was tested by a firm, low Elliott Kennedy strike.

Winchester maintained their momentum and capitalised on some hesitant defending to take a 13th-minute lead.

Oli BAILEY seized his chance to dispossess centre-back Paul Ireland some 25 yards out and scampered clear to score.

Even an early change at right-back – Adam Tomasso replacing the injured Dan Williamson – couldn’t break City’s stride as Cox, Rob Carr and IK Hill all had chances.

But high drama followed on 24 minutes as both sides were reduced to ten men.

Tomasso had barely had a chance to settle when he was victim of a rash tackle just outside the City area.

The Winchester sub was first to see red for retaliation while the initial aggressor, Cleeve’s Jack Watts, was also given his marching orders following a delay while he received treatment.

Winchester immediately sent on a second sub, withdrawing 17-year-old Hill and making Danny King their third right-back of the match.

Yet more City chances went begging – Cox missing the pick of them, somehow lifting his close-range effort over after a bout of pinball in the Bishops’ area.

The home side should have been coasting going into the break but, instead, Pryce was called upon to block out Harlie Price after Michael Ford’s delicate through ball had undone City’s defence.

Then, in stoppage time, Cleeve’s Ben Hands twice came within a whisper of an equaliser.

First he was denied by a timely clearance from City skipper Jamie Barron and then he sent a wickedly dipping shot just over.

Half-time: Winchester City 1 Bishop’s Cleeve 0.

Cox, who might have had a first-half hat-trick, missed the target once again at the start of the second period having been picked out by King’s deep cross.

The City No10 then cleverly set-up Bailey who also spurned a decent chance.

Sooner or later it looked as if Winchester would pay for their wastefulness and, with the hour mark approaching, they were pegged back to 1-1.

Joe BATES, who had already had two cracks at goal, swept home from close quarters after Cleeve had capitalised on a wayward defensive header by Rob Flooks.

Suddenly Cleeve were playing with the belief that they could go on and win it and Winchester breathed a sigh of relief when Kennedy struck the post.

Yet more chances presented themselves as Winchester rallied but, once again, Bailey and Cox’s luck was out.

As four minutes of injury time began, City half cleared a long throw and visiting sub Hinsa Gaye wasn’t too far away with a crisply struck follow-up.

That looked to be that but, sensationally, it was Winchester who won it in the very last moments of stoppage time.

Wideman Rob Carr battled well to win a corner which he duly delivered from the right.

And, somewhat cruelly for the Bishops, they made a total hash of defending it, allowing the jubilant BAILEY to hook it over his shoulder and across the line.