IAN Saunders felt his Winchester City side warranted two penalties at Bridgwater Town yesterday.

Yet he was not convinced that the one awarded for Howard Neighbour’s 52nd-minute winner should have been given.

Neighbour’s ability to hold his nerve from 12 yards proved the difference between the sides as Winchester piled on the problems for rock-bottom Bridgwater with a 1-0 victory.

It was no more than City deserved, albeit that Saunders viewed things a little differently to the match officials.

He said: “I thought we should have got a penalty when Stuart Green was clipped and we had another good shout when Andy Jenkinson, on as a late sub, was pulled over.

“But the two we thought were penalties weren’t given and the one we did get was awarded for a bit of a soft handball.

“We’re not complaining though. We’ll take the three points, a 1-0 win and a clean sheet.”

Bridgwater were much improved under new manager Phil Hucker, but Saunders felt City were worthy winners even though they were not at their best.

“We played at a good tempo for the first ten or 15 minutes, but then took our foot off the gas and couldn’t get a second wind,” he said.

“But we still created a fair few chances without putting the ball in the back of the net.

“Bridgwater have got a new, young side and their supporters gave them a standing ovation for the effort they put in.”

Winchester remain eighth in the Southern One South & West, seven points adrift of fifth-placed Salisbury who beat ten-man Yate Town 4-0 at the Ray Mac.

After a goalless first half, Tommy Wright broke the deadlock from the penalty spot – an incident that resulted in Trey Anderson being red-carded.

Tom Whelan and Justin Bennett (2) secured a comfortable win for Steve Claridge's Whites who welcomed back Kane O’Keefe and Brandon Mundy from injury.