WINCHESTER City’s Southern One South & West decline continued yesterday with a fifth straight league defeat – 4-1 at home to Wimborne Town.

Steve Smith gave the visitors the edge in an even-stevens first half, heading home a 33rd-minute corner in wet and windy conditions.

City, though, found the going tougher playing against the elements and two goals in the space of six minutes just after the hour gave them a double dose of the Boxing Day blues.

Micky Hubbard scored the first direct from a corner before Matt Kemble made it 3-0 to the Magpies with a well-taken volley.

City’s new signing Liam Robinson reduced the deficit, but Wimborne regained their three-goal advantage with a stoppage-time Hubbard penalty after former Winchester skipper Nathan Peprah-Annan had been brought down. “We did well in the first half and it was fairly even game,” reflected Winchester owner Paul McCarthy.

“But we had both our goalkeepers out injured – Rory Anderson with a bad back and Jon Webb with a swollen ankle – and it was a bit of a baptism of fire for the new lad Tom Robinson who we signed from Downton. He made mistakes for two of the goals.”

Winchester twice hit the woodwork through Adam Tomasso and ex-Eastleigh and Fareham midfielder Liam Robinson, who shone on debut.

“It was a disappointing result, but you can see the green shoots (of recovery),” said McCarthy. “Liam Robinson looks strong and quite skilful and our other new signing Ben Wilson did well. The outstanding one for me though was Joe Chamberlain, the young centre-back we’ve loaned from Eastleigh. He was awesome. I’d like to think we could keep hold of him, but I’m not sure it will be possible.”

Winchester are down to 18th with nine points to spare over bottom club Sholing.

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