Pat Cox hit a second-half hat-trick on debut as Winchester City began their first full season under Craig Davis with an impressive away win.

Oli Bailey, a Saints academy graduate signed from Gosport Borough, gave City a 1-0 half-time lead after latching on to a ball over the top and beating two defenders.

Target man Cox, a recent signing from Farnborough, poked home the second, then headed his second before completing his hat-trick in style to put City 4-0 up.

“I knew what we were bringing in and Pat delivered,” said player-manager Craig Davis, who was delighted with City’s new ‘Little and Large’ strike pairing. 

“He linked up really well with Oli Bailey, who was constantly buzzing around

“All the goals were really well worked especially the third. Oli ran at the heart of the defence sold a dummy and passed to Pat who curled it into the top corner on front of our supporters.”

The only blot on the performance for Davis was Shortwood’s consolations.

“We shouldn’t have conceded the last two goals, we switched off for their first straight after scoring out fourth and then it became like basketball game.

"We went looking for a fifth and they scored again in injury time.
“It shows we’ve got plenty to work on, but the win was never in doubt after our fourth.” 

Winchester are at home to Kidlington on Tuesday night.

Winchester City: Pryce, Williamson, King, Tomasso, Flooks, Harfield, White (Carr), Barron, Bailey (Hill), Cox, Jenkinson (Mlambo).
Unused subs: Davis, Byres