SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION THREE
MONDAY 2ND JANUARY 2006
VERWOOD TOWN 0 OTTERBOUURNE 1

It was a scrappy opening. Not much football on the deck and Otterbourne making sure they had good numbers behind the ball. Reeves seemed to be the busier in midfield as he chased and harried.

6 minutes gone and Otterbourne came closest to opening the scoring with a good attack finishing with an overhead kick that skimmed the bar.

Homer worked the ball down the line and linking with Dashwood created a good opening for Dyer to try a snap shot that unfortunately whistled wide.

The ball was still spending more time in the air than on the floor. Reeves tried to steady things a bit but crisp Otterbourne tackling stopped his efforts.

Lynch and Giles were busy at the back as more central raids were strung together. Bennett luckily was on form and produced a couple of cracking saves to keep us from going behind.

Goodall threatened on the left and a looping shot brought out a good save from the keeper. Otterbourne's defensive pattern meant substantial numbers in the box at any threat on goal. It made things difficult to create chances.

Evans was having a good tussle with his opposite number and was definitely having the better of exchanges, as Otterbourne hit back.

Towards the end of the half we won a couple of corners and Eyre went close with a good header but generally we couldn't find that cutting edge we desperately needed.

Otterbourne spent the last three minutes of the half camped in our box but we successfully kept the ball out of the net.

Half time 0-0.

There was more purpose in our play at the beginning of the second half with Reeves again the instigator of our pressure. Arnold too had clicked into gear and between them appeared to have the middle of the park bottled up.

Otterbourne switched attacks to the flanks but got no hope of a break through because of Homer and Evans' form. Lynch, as ever was solid at centre half and the game meandered as both teams had defensive shields that couldn't be breached.

Homer and Evans' speed helped attacks with overlapping play and crosses from Dashwood and Dyer gave half chances to Goodall and Arnold. It wasn't to be. Efforts either went wide or close enough to the keeper to keep a blank score line.

21 minutes and Paul Arnold made way for Lee Pidgeley. Pidgeley joined '.Goodall up front as a twin striker to see if we could change the pattern of the game. Pidgeley had a couple of early opportunities but couldn't hit the target.

For the next ten minutes we had a game of both sides attempting to hit on the break but with both keepers in good form it had all the hallmarks of a draw.

Bennett was the busier of the keepers and brought off brilliant saves as Otterbourne crept more into the game.

Giles broke up an attack with five minutes left and a chip over the midfield found Dyer in space. Dyer's progress on the right went unhindered. A deep low cross sped across the face of goal. In slid Pidgeley and agonisingly missed the ball by a fraction of an inch....2 yards out and no keeper!!

47 minutes and a high ball into our box was attacked by Chris Lynch. The ball spun off the pitch and a hand ball was given. Harsh....it didn't matter.
A penalty at this stage of the game Bennett flung himself in the right direction but the ball was hit with venom into the bottom corner of the net.

A last ditch attack, and Homer's shot went over the bar. It wasn't our day Full time 0-1

For info as I've been going back and have just scanned and added this one to the website (in 2026!). This was the first Verwood match attended by yours truly - the future Verwood Webbmaster/Photographer/Programme Editor Roy Mortimer