IT’S not often Warren Bentley fluffs his lines in front of goal.

But, of all people, it was the normally lethal Winchester City marksman who missed a penalty in yesterday's 0-0 Southern One South & West stalemate with second-placed Cinderford Town, spelling the end of the Citizens' 100 per cent home record.

In fairness to Bentley, it was his threat that drew a foul from Kyle Knott which resulted in the Cinderford man being red-carded shortly before half-time.

That should have been all the invitation Winchester needed to go on and win the game, but Bentley’s centrally -struck spot kick was stopped by ’keeper Alex Harris’s legs and, try as they might to make their man advantage tell after the break, City drew a rare blank.

Given that Winch had scored 16 goals in their previous three home league games, it was something of a shock for the 155-strong Denplan City Ground who had been dining out on goal feasts since the club’s summer promotion from the Sydenhams League.

But manager Paul Masters was honest enough to admit: “We didn’t do enough to win the game in the second half.

“To be fair, Cinderford came here and played one up front and got everyone behind the ball.

“That’s not a problem though and we need to do more to break teams down, but today we didn’t.

“I’ve not seen anyone in this league that frightens me, but the lads have got to understand that they need to be at it every game.

“Without being disrespectful, you could get away with being ten per cent off in the Wessex League, but not at this level.

“But to put things in perspective, we’ve just drawn with a team sitting second in the league and we’re feeling disappointed. That’s how far we’ve come.”

Unfortunately for fifth-placed City, classy right-back Jake Newton aggravated his hamstring injury on his comeback for the reserves and must now be highly doubtful for Saturday’s big FA Cup second qualifying round visit of Maidenhead United.