WINCHESTER City have missed out on signing Keith Emmerson following his departure from Farnborough.

Emmerson, who joined Boro' in 2016, left the north Hampshire club last week due to personal and work circumstances which require him to play closer to home.

The 34-year-old soldier is West Country-based and is believed to be on his way to City’s high-riding Evo-Stik South West rivals Taunton Town, who are eight points clear at the top of the table.

City boss Craig Davis had been keen to add the versatile defender/midfielder to his squad and tap into his experience.

“He’s been promoted with Poole Town and Farnborough and he would have been good for us,” said Davis.

“We were close to signing him, but we’ve been gazumped by people paying an awful lot more than we're able to.”

Having passed up the chance to go fourth when beaten 2-0 at Slimbridge on Wednesday, City hope to bag three points at bottom-of-the-table Bishops Cleeve on Saturday.

Heavy rain and a quagmire of a pitch didn’t help their cause at Slimbridge, but they still created enough chances to have got something from the game.

“They probably only had two efforts on goal and scored them both, but we can’t complain,” said Davis. “We paid the price for not putting our chances away.

“The pitch was really boggy by the end and that’s the second time we’ve faltered on a surface like that. It was the same at Wimborne.

“I think the Bishops Cleeve pitch is playable, but it’s horrendous and bobbly – that’s what pitches are like at this time of year.

“It’s another tough one for us. They’re scrapping for their lives and when they came to our place (a 2-1 City victory) I was surprised how good they were.

“They’ve just had a great 4-0 win over Mangotsfield, so we need to be ready.

“We have to get mentally right, match their efforts and take our chances when they come.”

City’s 19-goal marksman Oli Bailey – outstanding in the 3-1 home win over Larkhall last weekend – had a tougher time of it at Slimbridge, albeit that he hit the bar at 2-0 down.

“When it’s slushy mud like that and you’re a tricky, intricate, tight-turning player with pace, it’s never going to suit you,” said Davis.

Defender Josh Harfield and winger Rob Carr returned from illness and injury respectively at Slimbridge.

Simba Mlambo should be well enough to play this weekend after illness, but skipper Jamie Barron is doubtful after tweaking his knee. Danny King remains injured.