WINCHESTER City have brought a new face into the mix following an exhilarating start to the Southern One South & West season.

The Citizens – 7-2 home winners over Bridgwater Town on Saturday – have signed ex-Saints and Brighton & Hove Albion academy midfielder Matt Benham.

A Gosport Borough player last season, Benham spent pre-season with Wessex outfit Blackfield & Langley and impressed for the Watersiders in their recent friendly against Winchester.

He also appeared as a late sub for Gosport against City in last season’s Hampshire FA Senior Cup quarter-final at Privett Park.

With only suspended midfielder Micky Hubbard and, possibly, defender Rob Flooks (knee) missing for tonight’s (Tuesday’s) trip to Wimborne Town, there will be some disappointed players on the City bench – or even left out of the squad completely.

But assistant boss Paul Wiltshire, currently filling in for holidaying manager Paul Masters, said: “It’s going to be a long season. There’s a lot of football to play and a lot of travelling to be done. If we keep a good, strong squad everyone will get their fair share of games.”

Former Eastleigh reserve team manager Wiltshire is back on the non-League scene after parting company with Sydenhams Premier outfit Fawley AFC in February 2012 following a year in charge of the Watersiders.

He was so demoralised at the time that he thought about retiring from football, but City’s director of football Dave Malone – himself an ex-Eastleigh man – talked him out of it.

“Dave persuaded me back and, after five games and five wins, I’m getting the bug back!” he smiled.

“I know Dave and (Winchester chairman) Paul Murray from my Eastleigh days and Paul Masters and I are a couple of ex-Saints who played in the same (midfield) position.

“Dave’s a canny operator who pulls no punches. To some people he’s a bit blunt, but he knows what he wants.

“Our lads are still on a high after the success of last season and hopefully we’ll keep that going.”

Wimborne made three signings last week, headed by winger Carl Preston from neighbours Poole Town.

Ex-AFC Bournemouth scholar Declan Randall, a promising defender, has also become a Magpie, while midfielder Bill Elliott is back at Cuthbury after a spell away at university.

The Magpies, though, had a disappointing start to the campaign, beaten 4-1 at Shortwood.