WINCHESTER City’s unbeaten start to the season is over – and they only have themselves to blame.

Manager Craig Davis called it “a defeat of our own making” as the Citizens twice surrendered the lead at home to Paulton Rovers before succumbing to Liam Monelle’s 74th-minute winner.

Paulton have been a bogey team for Davis, who has not overseen a victory against them in five attempts. That should have changed yesterday, but missed chances contributed to City's 3-2 Evo-Stik Division One South downfall.

Main marksman Oli Bailey was injured, but City got off to a dream start when Tyrell Mitford caught Paulton cold with a sweetly-taken lob.

Simba Mlambo and Reece Rusher might have built on that lead before Sam Hedges equalised from a 24th-minute corner.

A minute later City were back in front when Hedges deflected Rusher’s dangerous cross past his own keeper, but back came Paulton through Joe Hilliard.

Winchester chances came and went and they were punished for their wastefulness when Monelle converted a right-wing cross.

Paulton had sub Josh Morgan-Williams sent off for a reckless challenge on Jamie Barron, but the ten men saw the game out.

With Connor Cocklin retiring injured at half-time, Winchester had shifted Joe Cook to centre-back and brought on midfielder Matt Benham,who is back at the cathedral city club from Thatcham Town.

Reflecting on a frustrating afternoon Davis said:”We played better in the first half than we have in some of the games we’ve won.

"We’re sitting fourth, but we’ve not got a league game all month now so we're going to drop down.

"If we’d picked up three points, it would have given us a buffer.

"It’s a missed opportunity in my eyes.”