WINCHESTER City overcame a heavy pitch and a physical Mangotsfield United side to move back up to third in the Southern One South & West.

Paul Masters wasn’t exactly turning cartwheels after yesterday's 2-1 Denplan City Ground victory, admitting it was “not the best.”

But the three points were a welcome birthday present for the City boss - as was the quality of the 48th-minute winner from former Saints and Brighton academy midfielder Matt Benham.

The youngster found the bottom corner with a hard, low shot from the right, repaying the faith Masters has shown in him since his August arrival from Gosport.

“I knew it would take a while to get Matt used to the way we play but we’ve bedded him in slowly and he’s starting to show his quality,” said the boss. “He’s a proper footballer, he sees things early, his first touch is good and he passes the ball well. He’s got a good future.”

Winchester were without unwell midfielder Adam ‘Taz’ Roberts, while Folland Sports kindly allowed ex-City favourite Ross Casey to fill in for injured goalkeeper Brendan Norris.

They made a sluggish start and conceded a soft headed goal by Luke Bryan with 24 minutes gone – the last thing they needed having lost their previous two league games.

But an equaliser soon materialised when, after good play from Warren Bentley and Dom Cope, expectant dad Charlie Smeeton struck from close range.

Benham’s master stroke put them in the ascendancy and Rickie Scott didn’t help the Mangos’ cause when he was sent off for a rash tackle on Jamie Barron.

“We weren’t very good in the first half, but we showed our character in the second half,” summed up Masters.

“The pitch was poor and it’s hard work when you’re up against a physical side and you can’t pass the ball properly. But we’ve won the game and that’s all that matters.”

City host Sholing on Wednesday (January 20) in the Hampshire FA Senior Cup quarter-finals.