Winchester City gained the upper hand in the race for second in the Sydenhams Premier Division as they thrashed ten man Moneyfields 4-0 at the Denplan City Ground on Friday night in a feisty encounter.

Third place City are now just three points behind the Moneymen with two games in hand in the battle for promotion places.

But are nine points behind leaders Petersfield Town, who look increasingly likely to take the Wessex Premier crown.

The home side took the lead on 20 minutes as Adam ‘Taz’ Roberts danced into the box and passed to hot-shot striker Warren Bentley.

His first time shot deflected upwards towards goal. Just as it was about to cross the line, Liam Robinson darted in to polish it off.

The first half was competitive and entertaining in front of the bumper 462 Denplan crowd.

But, at times, it threatened to boil over with hard, sometimes wild, challenges flying in.

Roberts and Robinson on the City wings impressed, and Moneys offered excitement on the break through Alfie Rutherford and Steve Hutchings.

The game was then marred by a grim tackle by Moneys’ Conor Bailey, which left Micky Hubbard writhing in pain and the visitors down to ten men with an hour left.

Paul Masters’ side doubled their lead as Robinson smartly followed-up from Roberts’ shot inside the box three minutes into the half as Winchester made the man advantage count.

The Portsmouth side never seemed fully out of it at the beginning of the second period and they went close as Rutherford clipped the outside of the post on 55 minutes.

But a City quick-fire double settled any doubts.

Defender Luke Dempsey bundled home from a corner after a melee saw Chris Mason deny his own side a goal on the line, before the centre half hit home as the ball came out on 65 minutes.

Bentley then took his tally to 44 for the season as he twisted and turned in the box before finishing into the bottom left with aplomb three minutes later.

Robinson almost had his hat-trick but he skewed just wide from inside the box.

Moneys stopper Dave Hook made several impressive saves late on as Winchester pushed for more.

Winchester starting XI: Barfoot, Tomasso, Cope, Hubbard, Thoroughgood, Dempsey, Roberts, Mason, Glasspool (c), Bentley, Robinson. Subs: Green, Holloway, Cadete, Phillips, Casson.

Moneyfields starting XI: Hook, Giddings, Martin, Lee, Chapman (c), Morgan, Fennemore, Arnold, Rutherford, Hutchings, Bailey. Subs: Way, Hunt, Scott, Raine.