OLI Bailey reckons yesterday's last-gasp winner against Bishops Cleeve was payback for all the times Winchester City have been denied the result they deserved.

Bailey, whose 13th-minute opener was snuffed out by Joe Bates, had the last word of a 10 v 10 contest, acrobatically hooking the ball over the line after the rock-bottom Bishops had made a hash of defending Rob Carr’s corner.

“The keeper went to punch the ball, it’s hit a defender and I’ve met it with a bicycle kick over my shoulder,” smiled Bailey.

Given that Bailey and strike partner Pat Cox had passed up a heap of earlier chances, the extravagant nature of his finish might have been tempting fate.

But at just over 5ft 5in tall, the diminutive marksman was confident it would end up in the net rather than flying over.

“I’m small enough to be able to hook it over my shoulder,” smiled the 21-year-old Exeter University student, who now has 13 goals and five assists to his name.

“We’ve had games before that we should have got more points from, so scoring late today makes up for it.”

When Bailey scampered through to make it 1-0 on 13 minutes, it should have been the start of a comfortable afternoon for the Citizens in the Evo-Stik South West.

But they lost Dan Williamson to injury soon after scoring and it was all change again for City on 24 minutes when sub Adam Tomasso was sent off and Danny King became their third right-back of the afternoon.

Tomasso got his marching orders for retaliating to a rash challenge by the Bishops’ Jack Watts, who also saw red.

Winchester were pegged back by Bates on 59 minutes following a loose defensive header by Rob Flooks and it almost got worse for the Citizens when Cleeve skipper Elliott Kennedy hit the woodwork.

But having fallen foul of late goals by Bristol Manor Farm, Paulton Rovers and Salisbury in recent weeks, City made sure the boot was other foot this time thanks to Bailey’s late heroics.

“Relief is the emotion right now. It was an extremely frustrating afternoon,” admitted City boss Craig Davis.

“We should have been five or six up first-half and I said to the lads that if you don’t take your chances, it’s going to bite you on the bum.

“I was quite impressed with Bishops Cleeve. When they got their equaliser, their tails were up and it was tricky for a time. But for us to pop up with a goal late on is what the lads deserved. We’ve been incredibly unfortunate recently.”

“We had (centre-back) Josh Harfield suspended today and to have to bring on two different full-backs in 25 minutes was tough. Dan Williamson has possibly been our best player, so to lose him to a hamstring problem was a body blow, and then Ads (Tomasso) gets sent off.

“It was an horrendous tackle on Ads, who’s had his share of injuries, but he shouldn’t have reacted.”

Due to the tight nature of the game, young subs Ben Sunley and Harry Clark didn’t get a run-out. Both, however, should feature in a changed City squad for Tuesday's Southampton Senior Cup tie at home to Nursling (7.45pm).

Winchester City: Ryan Pryce, Dan Williamson (Adam Tomasso, 17), Andy Jenkinson, Liam Gilbert, Rob Flooks, Joe Cook, IK Hill (Danny King, 26), Jamie Barron, Oli Bailey, Pat Cox, Rob Carr. Subs (not used): Craig Davis, Ben Sunley, Harry Clark.

Referee: Rob Ablitt.

Attendance: 156.