CRAIG Davis labelled Winchester City a “nearly-man team” in the wake of yesterday’s frustrating 3-2 home defeat by high-riding Bideford AFC.

Not for the first time this season, City were a match for opponents from the upper echelons of the Evo-Stik South West, but failure to clear their lines cost them.

After Ben Seymour had given Bideford a 32nd minute lead, good work by Pat Cox and Rob Carr forced visiting defender Ian Sampson into an own goal under pressure from Oli Bailey.

But City were caught cold when Craig Duff struck seconds after the break and Jamie Barron – two-goal penalty hero against Swindon Supermarine in midweek - then had a spot-kick saved following a foul on Carr.

Bailey sprinted through to make it 2-2 on 79 minutes, but City’s old failings came back to haunt them as Duff struck again for the 83rd-minute winner.

“We’ve given loads of goals away with poor half-clearances and this was another one,” rued Davis.

“We had strong words afterwards which seems a bit unfair because we were otherwise excellent against a team that has gone second in the league.

“But it’s another case of so near and yet so far.

“We’ve lost to Bristol Manor Farm, Salisbury and now this lot and, in each of those games, we’ve been in the ascendancy for the most part.

“We’re a ‘nearly-man team’ who cause these top sides problems but then gift them goals.

“It’s got to stop. It’s the individual responsibility of each player to clear their lines better.”

The good news for eighth-placed City was a 20-minute run-out for pacy wideman Simba Mlambo after long-term shoulder problems.

But Dan Williamson had to go off with back trouble and Carr has a badly bruised and swollen foot, making them both doubtful for Tuesday's (7.45pm) trip to North Leigh. Adam Tomasso sits out the last of a four-match ban.

*KANE O’Keefe’s looping header rescued a point for Salisbury in a 1-1 home draw with Evo-Stik South West promotion rivals Bristol Manor Farm.

The Whites skipper sent a 658 crowd home reasonably happy when, with just three minutes of normal time remaining, he headed home Lewis Benson’s cross.

In all honesty, though, Salisbury should have done more.

They dominated first-half possession but went a goal down midway through the second period when Dean Stamp’s ricocheted shot edged the Bristol visitors in front.

Salisbury’s man-of-the-match Tom Whelan hit the woodwork before O’Keefe struck just in the nick of time.

The Wiltshire Whites are fourth, tied on 29 points with Wimborne Town and Evesham United.

Wimborne went goal crazy at Slimbridge, winning 8-1 courtesy of Billy Maybury (2), James Stokoe, Matt Oldring, Toby Holmes, Louis Kellaway, Luke Holmes and Luke Burbidge.

*GOSPORT Borough have added to their strike options by taking Conor Davis on loan from Reading.

The 19-year-old former Republic of Ireland youth international has been called up by his country at under-15, 16 and 17 level.

Borough, though, came away empty-handed from promotion hopefuls Kettering Town on Saturday, beaten 2-0 by goals from Aaron O’Connor and Brett Solkhon.

It might have been a heavier defeat but for an outstanding show of defiance by goalkeeper Tom Price.

The result leaves Gosport clamped to the foot of the Evo-Stik South Premier table, still two points adrift of fellow strugglers Dunstable.

*JAMIE White has started as he means to go on for new club Moneyfields.

The ex-Saints, Winchester City and Salisbury hot- shot has linked up with Moneys from Sydenhams Premier outfit Blackfield & Langley.

Typically of White, he etched his name on the scoresheet for the league leaders after just four minutes at Cambridge City in the Evo-Stik South East.

Jack Vasey levelled on the half-hour, but the 1-1 draw means Moneys remain unbeaten and are three points clear at the top.