OLI Bailey’s suspension means Winchester City will have to tweak their style of play after a stunning start to the new season.

Monday’s 2-0 win at Moneyfields – described by Davis as “one of the most complete performances I’ve had as manager” – made it nine points out of nine in the Evo-Stik Division One South.

On top of that, Winchester are through to the FA Cup first qualifying after seeing off Bournemouth Poppies 1-0 at the Simplyhealth City Ground last weekend with Tyrell Mitford, for the third game running, netting the winning goal.

City’s reward is a trip to one-division-higher Frome Town, who are currently in the lower reaches of the Evo-Stik Premier South.

Bailey, City’s small, but dynamic, No9, will be out of the picture for the next three games as a result of receiving a straight red card in a dramatic 3-2 win over Thatcham Town.

Having studied the video, the Citizens appealed on the grounds that, having been bundled to the ground by a Thatcham player, Bailey was then man-handled to his feet before pushing the player away.

The appeal, though, was unsuccessful, meaning Bailey will miss Saturday's home league game against Melksham Town (3pm), the FA Cup tie and Tuesday’s Southern League Challenge Cup tie at home to Gosport Borough (7.45pm).

Given Winchester's lack of squad depth (they are also without the injured Liam Gilbert and honeymooning Rob Carr), they can ill afford to lose Bailey, but Davis is confident they can find a way round it.

“We’ve not got back-up for most players, so we’re going to have to get on the training pitch and make a slight adjustment to how we play and try and bring the best out of others to make up for losing Oli,” he said.

“He’s important to us, but he’s not the only one who’s been getting our goals. Oli’s got two of the eight we’ve scored so far, so we’ve been sharing them round and we’ll be looking for others to step up to the plate.”

Like Winchester, fifth-placed Melksham - promoted from the Western Premier - have had a pleasing start to the season.

“It sounds like they’ve got a decent budget and they’ve got the ex-Totton winger Jon Davies who’s a very good player,” said Davis.

Discussing City's next FA Cup challenge at Frome (September 8, 3pm), the manager said: “It’s a tough one.

"Three-quarters of the draw could have been kinder to us but then, if I was Frome and pulled us out of the hat, I wouldn’t be too happy considering we’ve had such a great start to the season.

"Whatever happens between now and then, we’ll go there full of confidence.”