WINCHESTER City boss Ian Saunders is not normally one for “ifs and buts” in the wake of a negative result.

But in the case of last night's 2-1 Southern One South & West defeat at home to North Leigh, he made an exception.

Although full of praise for the Oxfordshire visitors’ “excellent attacking threat”, he felt City should have got something from what was often a “maniacally” open game.

Saunders – who leads his troops to fourth-placed Mangotsfield United on Saturday – said: “For the neutral, it was a good game. North Leigh’s attacking threat was excellent, lots of pace and direct – as good as any side we’ve played this season in any competition.

“It was proper manic for the first 15 minutes – way too open for both managers, I’ve no doubt. But once North Leigh scored, we settled down and, after they’d had a good chance to make it 2-0, we broke and equalised and then had a really good spell.”

Saunders was disappointed to concede to a looping Aaron Woodley header from a set-piece with 20 minutes gone, but a turn and cross from the excellent Stuart Green set up Taz Roberts to equalise six minutes later.

Winchester had opportunities to go in front - most notably when Green’s shot hit the upright, rebounded off his leg and rolled past the post.

More chances passed City by as they grew into the second half, but it was North Leigh who found the 82nd-minute winner when Woodley bagged his second of the game.

Craig Feeney might have levelled in stoppage-time when he burst through one-on-one, but shot wide.

“We had some good chances, but the North Leigh keeper was inspired to say the least,” said Saunders.

“Their winner was disappointing, but we still had chances to score.

“I’m not normally one for ifs and buts, but their keeper was man-of-the-match which says quite a bit.

“We should have got something out of the game, I thought our overall play deserved it. On another night we could have won by a couple of clear goals."

Winchester, 14th, have Jamie Ford suspended for the Mangotsfield trip and Adam Tomasso unavailable. Stuart Mott, Matt Evans and Howard Neighbour should all be back.