Six New Citizens

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South new boys Winchester City have snapped up six new players.

Three of the new boys both are making the step up from the Wessex League Premier Division.

Josh Bertie joins the Citizens from Andover Town. However, he had been playing in the Southern Premier Division South with Dorchester Town on dual registration since January 2022.

The 25-year-old British Virgin Islands international`s previous experience came in the United States with Cowley Tigers and Lander Bearcats.

He scored 31 goals in 26 games for Andover in 2021/22 and in October became Town's all-time top goalscorer and in scoring a brace against Fleet Town, in his 100th game for the Hampshire side, took his record to 56 goals.

He extended his tally to 71 in 112 games before Dorchester came calling.

The forward has played four games for his country in the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, failing to score.

Striker Silvano Obeng moves to City from Brockenhurst, where he enjoyed a prolific 2021/22 campaign, netting 38 goals in 43 games.

The 26-year-old joined Brock in the summer of 2021 from Southern Division One South side AFC Totton.

He had been with the Stags since June 2019 after joining from another Wessex League outfit, Team Solent.

Previously with Kettering Town before moving south to university, he netted 25 goals for Team Solent in 2018/19 and whilst with the Poppies, where he came through the youth and under-21 ranks, he made 19 senior appearances and scored 5 goals.

Also making a return to Step 3 after a season in the Wessex Premier is defender Archie Willcox.

The 20-year-old spent a short time with Winchester’s new league rivals Gosport Borough at the beginning of 2021/22 before joining Wessex Leaguers AFC Portchester.

But the highly-rated young player made a quick return to his former club, Fareham Town, in late August 2021.

Joining Winchester on dual registration with Vanarama National League side Aldershot Town is winger Alex MacAllister.

The youngster enjoyed a terrific 2021/22 season in the Shots` under-18 and under-23 sides.

He netted 17 goals and had assists.

Jack Torniainen moves to the Charters Community Stadium after being released by National League neighbours Eastleigh.

The 20-year-old defender signed full-time terms with the Spitfires in the summer of 2021 having impressed in the club`s development team since arriving in July 2020.

He was originally on the books at AFC Bournemouth, where he progressed to play regularly for the Cherries` under-18 side.

He also got his first taste of men's football with a loan spell with Dorchester from September 2019 until January 2020, playing 12 games, scoring once.

He then spent time on loan at two other Southern Premier Division South sides last season in Beaconsfield Town and then Wimborne Town.

At Wimborne, Torniainen played alongside defender Mark Jamison, who has also made the move to Winchester.

The 30-year-old joined the Magpies in September 2021.

Capable of playing across the backline or as a defensive midfielder, he is a former Poole Town player who joined Isthmian Premier side Corinthian-Casuals in 2019.

He was previously with Beaconsfield SYCOB, Holmer Green, Chalfont St Peter, Staines Town and Hanwell Town.

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