On a bright Saturday afternoon, our Under 23’s faced near-neighbours AFC Winkfield, in a bid to win back-to-back fixtures. Alex Collie remained between the sticks, and Mickael Vaisset, Daniel Watkiss, Andrew Tafeni, Jamaal Whight all kept their places in the starting XI.

Luke Donville was named in Baptiste’s team for the first time this season, whilst Max Laschok, Jahson Downes, Archie Denton, Louis Eade and Rjunior Palmer entered the side once more.

The opening minutes of the game saw both sides attempt to settle. Winkfield had the first shot of the match from close range, but the ball rolled out of play. City forward Tafeni manoeuvred his way into the box moments later, but the visitors’ Kieron Mason ran off his line to claim the effort early.

A Winkfield falter in the final third almost allowed City to open the scoring, but unfortunately, Tafeni’s strike flashed across the face of the goal.

Donville and Laschok linked up on the edge of the eighteen yard box, taking a risk and firing towards the net. Winkfield deflected the chance, but City kept persevering. Tafeni took another risk and curled in a ball at the post, but Mason did well to push City back.

Winkfield began to play positively, and the visitors’ number nine, David Neligwa, took a strong touch after a long corner, which travelled across the box. He attempted to tap it in, but it rolled out at the back post.

As the clock passed the 20th minute, Tafeni was able to break the deadlock and put us ahead. Evading defenders and creating space in the box, he was able to knock it past Mason for City to take the lead.

Downes almost immediately doubled our lead, following some great work with Denton, sending in a threatening ball from eighteen yards out. It rocketed past the post and out for a goal kick to the visitors.

Eade and Laschok teamed up to deliver an excellent cross to Tafeni, who aimed from the left, but Mason claimed it on the line.

Winkfield’s closest chance yet came from an inswinging corner in the 36th minute, which dipped in flight in the final seconds, crashing into the top of the net. Players were positioned at the near post ready to tap it in, but the Cityzens were relieved as it narrowly missed.

The final ten saw a flurry of shots from City and Winkfield, with the visitors’ Branwhite coming closest to netting a goal. As his curling effort went wide and out of play, we entered the break with an advantage thanks to Tafeni’s strike.

Half Time: City U23s 1-0 AFC Winkfield

As they say, football is a game of two halves, and the action didn’t disappoint as we returned after the break.

The game continued with a high tempo, and both teams immediately piled on the intensity. However, Louis Eade was the one to add to the scoreline first this half. Fed through from an excellent inswinging free kick by Donville, Eade made no mistake in netting the ball and doubling our tally.

Winkfield almost instantly responded, halving the deficit through a long ball from Archie Branwhite. Multiple attempts from the visitors saw them on-top since the restart, with Sam Blakebrough coming closest to scoring an equaliser.

Baptiste looked to his bench to bring in new legs, exchanging Archie Denton and Max Laschok for Daniel Nderitu and Roy-Jones Mbou.

The visitors soon drew level when Herman Nii Addo-Quaynor knocked an effort just past Collie. With less than half an hour to go, it was still all to play for. 

A second round of substitutions came for City as Matei Corbu and Taha Menshawi were introduced, alongside Bless-Him Kimpiats. This saw Louis Eade, Andrew Tafeni and Daniel Watkiss exit the field of play.

Our nearest chance of the half since the equaliser fell to Corbu, following a fantastic ball from Collie, which was driven forward by Menshawi, who eluded defenders in the midfield. The striking effort went just wide, rolling past the outside of the post.

As the clock ticked over, the referee awarded a penalty to the visitors’ due to a foul in the box. Winkfield took the lead for the first time this game as William Goddard slotted it home in the bottom left corner to make it 3-2.

Despite late efforts from Mbou and Menshawi, the opposition left with all three points, leaving City to rue their missed chance to close down the game in the early stages.

Full Time: City U23s 2-3 AFC Winkfield

But there’s always next week. We take a short break from league action next weekend as Sheldon Baptiste and Mimi Olaide’s side travel to Swindon to take on Shrivenham FC for our first outing in the Charles Twelftree County Cup.