ROMSEY Town overcame both elements and a tough opposition in Whitchurch United to snatch the only goal of the game with five minutes remaining at Longmeadow last Saturday.

The wind swept and rain lashed conditions throughout made flowing football difficult for both sides, but as the game looked destined to be goalless, Town striker Liam Magee popped up with the winning goal, writes Tony Galsworthy.

Town were without ever present midfielder Oliver Jenkins, so Adam Saunders was handed his first senior start, while John Cole returned to the strike force to partner Magee in the continued absence of Jack Odam through injury.

Town keeper Jordi Valero had to be at full stretch to keep out a deflected shot, before Rattley saw a powerful drive force a save from the Jam Boys keeper Harrison Mott.

The Bypass Boys came close to taking the lead from a long range Craig Bryant free kick, which brought a parried save and the rebound was pounced on by Cole, whose effort was blocked before Magee forced the ball over the line only to see the goal disallowed for offside.

Mott was at full stretch again to thwart Mark Fawley and Romsey’s best chance of the half came when Rattley’s cross was met by Cole’s header and from Mott’s save the ball was scuffed wide of a gaping net by Magee.

The second half saw Whitchurch improve and the game entered a phase of stalemate, before the referee awarded Town a penalty for a foul on Rattley as he was about to shoot, but after consulting his linesman to Town fans’ disbelief he overturned his decision.

With five minutes left on the clock Town claimed a deserved lead when the Jam Boys failed to clear a cross from the left, Owen Holloway’s shot was blocked, and in one swift movement Liam Magee controlled, turned sharply, and fired a low shot into the corner of the net.

The game then finished on rather a sour note, when the hosts’ Henderson saw the red card raised after a bad late challenge on Holloway, before John Cole also saw red when he dived into a tackle, just after he had been denied what he clearly felt ought to have been a free kick awarded to him.

Romsey moved up to seventh in the table after this win and will be hoping to claim a place in the top five play off spots after they meet Andover Town at The AEC Protection Ground tomorrow (ko 3pm).