WARREN Bentley is closing in on Moneyfields’ Steve Hutchings at the top of the Sydenhams Premier scoring charts.

The Winchester City hot-shot now has 37 Wessex goals to his name – one behind Hutchings – after scoring twice in a 2-2 draw at table-topping Petersfield Town.

Having fallen behind to an early Ed Dryden goal, City got themselves in front before Alex Ward rescued the league leaders a point.

Petersfield boss Ian Saunders felt a draw was “just about a fair result” and his opposite number Paul Masters did not disagree.

“The pitch was not the best and, although there was a lot of endeavour, there was not a lot of skill,” said the City manager.

“But we got a point against a top-of-the-league side and a draw was probably fair.

“We started poorly against a well-organised Petersfield team who give 100 per cent.

“We dominated the rest of the first half and the second half was a lot more even.”

The Rams made City pay for a stuttering start when, with five minutes gone, Warren Hunt headed the ball into the path of Dryden who found the bottom corner.

Winchesterlevelled on 27 minutes when Zach Glasspool pulled the ball back from the by-line for Bentley to hammer home.

The visitors forged ahead with a 66th-minute Bentley penalty given for Ward’s foul on dangerman Glasspool.

But Rams skipper Ward made amends with 11 minutes remaining when City’s defence could only slice a long-range free kick up in the air. Dryden got underneath it and knocked it down for Ward to bury the leveller.

Bentley almost raced away for his hat-trick two minutes later, but Town ’keeper Matt Shortt parried his shot.

The point puts Petersfield top, just ahead of Moneyfields, while third-placed City are six points behind with a game in hand.

“Petersfield is a difficult place to go. We’re disappointed not to have won, but getting a point keeps us in the title race,” said Masters.

“The lads dug deep and we had 100 fans there supporting us, which is great for the whole club.

“Warren’s got another couple of goals and it’s well deserved. He’s a goal-scorer with a fantastic footballing brain. He’s an all-round good player with a good future.” The two sides must do it all again at Love Lane tonight, this time in the quarter-final of the Sydenhams League Cup.

But, with players cup-tied and Masters keen to rest others, it will be a very different Winchester line-up.

“Adam Tomasso got a knock, Zach’s been playing through the pain barrier with a hamstring, Geoff Dunn’s got a dead leg and Charlie Smeeton’s unavailable, so we’ll be looking to use the squad tonight,” he said.