WINCHESTER City are fast becoming the great entertainers of local football.

The goals flowed yet again yesterday as top scorer Craig Feeney’s hat-trick against Shortwood United hoisted his season’s tally to 27.

There was some damage sustained too on a rollercoaster afternoon at the Denplan City Ground, but Winch came out on top 4-3 to climb to eighth in the Southern One South & West.

“It was a great game for the neutral – I seem to be saying that quite a lot lately!” smiled manager Ian Saunders.

“We’re good value at the moment going forward.

“We concede a few too – not because we’re poor defensively, but because games are quite open.”

Feeney took only 40 seconds to score with a delightful lob but, after a manic spell of three goals in as many minutes midway through the first-half, things were level 2-2.

Shortwood’s Nick Humphreys began the madness, then Stuart Mott restored City’s lead from a corner only for Ross Langworthy to snatch it away again.

Feeney gave City the lead once more and struck bar and post in an eventful first-half before completing his hat-trick with a 50th-minute header for 4-2.

It continued to be an all-action game with both keepers kept busy before Shortwood’s Jake Lee trimmed the deficit on 61 minutes to set up a tense finale.

It was Winchester, though, who came closest to another breakthrough when United goalkeeper Rhys Lovett did well to deny Stuart Green.

“Feeney’s on fire at the moment and, to be fair, the players around him are helping Craig’s game,” said Saunders.

“We’re not necessarily a direct team, but we do try and get the ball in early to Craig as often as possible. It helps his confidence and gets him on the ball."

On-song City have now won seven of their last eight league games. Next up are two away tests at Evesham United on Wednesday and Larkhall Athletic on Saturday.