GOALKEEPER Ross Casey turned in a man-of-the-match performance as Winchester City held onto the Sydenhams Premier top spot with a commanding 3-0 victory at AFC Portchester last night.

The young former AFC Totton stopper made two quality first-half saves to deny Simon Woods and Danny Audin and then capped a great night by foiling Nathan Kirby from the penalty spot after the break.

City flew out of the blocks, scoring after just two minutes when Chris Flood ran through and slotted under ’keeper Jon Webb.

Eleven minutes later they went two up as Webb’s slip presented Chris Mason with a straightforward finish from six yards.

Having kept out Woods’ deflected shot, Casey thwarted Audin from close range just before the break.

He later dived to his left to save Kirby’s spot kick following a foul on Luke Sweeney.

Despite growing rumours about an imminent break-up of their team, reigning league champions Blackfield & Langley marched on with a 2-0 home win over Horndean. Craig Feeney got the first followed by an own goal.

Apart from players who were unavoidably ruled out, Blackfield had a full atten dance, although ex-Saint Kev Gibbens failed a fitness test on a sore foot.

With TJ Cuthbertson suspended, Joe Byne injured and Micky Hubbard, Michael Durdey and Scott Sampson all working, coach Tom Barge filled in in the middle of the park. Manager Glenn Burnett also missed the game as he was working a night shift.

Last season’s runners-up Alresford Town kept the goals flowing with a landslide 5-1 win at Bemerton Heath Harlequins, moving them second on goal difference from Blackfield. Warren Bentley (2), Zach Glasspool, Dan Strange and Dom Cope found the net.

“We pretty much took Saturday’s (7-2) Vase win into tonight,” said satisfied co-boss Danny Robinson. “We kept the same 11 and they responded brilliantly. Barring a mistake for their goal, it was all good. We were clinical in front of goal.”