CRAIG Davis spoke of a “bitterly disappointing” end to a forgettable week followin yesterday's 1-1 home draw against Barnstaple Town.

Faced with the division’s bottom two sides, the Citizens had been hoping to boost their play-off push with a full house of six Evo-Stik South West points.

Instead, they had to content themselves with just the one - yesterday's draw following hot on the heels of a 4-2 midweek defeat at basement boys Bishops Cleeve.

City should have taken a 1-0 lead into the half-time dressing room, but Jamie Barron uncharacteristically squandered a penalty. His effort was saved by Aaron Screech after Chris Ibbeson had fouled Rob Carr.

Nine minutes into the second half, the referee pointed to the spot again with Winchester’s Pat Cox this time going down in the box and he had more joy from 12 yards to open up a slender lead.

Winchester, though, could not keep hold of it as Barnstaple’s Alex Gray capitalised on some poor defending by Josh Harfield to ensure honours ended even.

With Joe Cook and Liam Gilbert still out injured and Adam Brice ill, City welcomed in new signing Ollie Griggs, a 19-year-old ex-Eastleigh youngster on loan from Dorchester Town.

Reflecting on the draw, Davis said: “It wasn’t through lack of effort, more a lack of quality. We had 25 corners but, in the end, Prycey (goalkeeper Ryan Pryce) had to make a couple of saves or we could have ended up losing it.

“We’ve got a great group of lads who probably overachieved a bit earlier in the season and we’ve been found wanting lately.

“We should have been looking at six points this week and have ended up with one, which is disappointing.

“There’s a thousand excuses we could make but, ultimately, we’re underperforming.

"It's been a perfect storm of rubbish, but these things are cyclical and I’m sure it will go back round again.

"We must regroup and go again."

City are still a respectable seventh but have some huge tests approaching.

They go to second placed Salisbury next Saturday before entertaining mighty league leaders Taunton on March 10.

In between, they host a Hampshire FA Senior Cup semi-final against Blackfield & Langley on Tuesday, March 6.

AFC Totton are in ninth spot after their scheduled game at Paulton Rovers was frozen off.