HOWARD Neighbour sank his fourth goal in as many games for Winchester City against Yate Town last night.

It was a scrappy finish which, according to manager Ian Saunders, was very much in keeping with the game.

The result was all-important though with City’s 1-0 win keeping them 14th in the Southern One South & West ahead of Saturday’s trip to seventh-placed Bideford.

“We were pleased with the result against Yate, it was a deserved win but not a great game,” said Saunders.

“Any non-League ground hoppers who turned up will have been a bit disappointed. But you can’t play the beautiful game every week.

“It was a real scruffy goal that won it. There was a bit of a melee in the middle of the box and it looked like a defender handled the ball. He laid on the ball and then handled it again before Howard struck as the ball popped out.

“It’s just as well it went in because the lads were incensed. They thought it was a penalty. At least it alleviated any decision that needed to be made.”

Neighbour, one of the players that followed Saunders over from Petersfield Town, has been “quietly effective” according to his boss.

“He doesn’t get the plaudits that (top scorer) Craig Feeney does a lot of the time, but they work well together and complement each other,” said Saunders.

“Howard’s more of an old-fashioned targetman, while Feeney’s an off-the-shoulder type player who gets in behind with pace.”

City hope to have centre-back Robbie Matthews back on Saturday after he tweaked his groin in last night's warm-up.

They are also waiting on news of midfielder Andy Jenkinson, who ended the evening with an innocuous looking lump on his foot. However, he ended up in A&E today after it started bleeding.

Winchester can head to Bideford in good heart having chalked up three straight league wins and four in all competitions.