SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 25TH AUGUST 2007
WHITCHURCH 0 - VERWOOD TOWN 6

A steamy hot day with temperatures around 28. Stamina would be the key as both sides committed themselves to good football.

Whitchurch were first to attack. A move down the right was blocked by Homer but the re bound was hammered goalwards for Fawcett to bring off an early save.

We hit back with Goodall and Reeves combining well to break through the middle. A shot was beaten out and King following in hitting a left foot volley that was again beaten out. Dyer tried a shot and then Reeves fired a volley destined for the top corner had it not been for a tremendous save from the home keeper. It was good start with both sides going forward at the earliest opportunity.

We enjoyed most of the play and a Dyer shot followed by a King header kept the keeper busy.

Goodall then hit the bar and Reeves hit a shot that rattled the post.
Whitchurch slammed back and Fawcett was called upon to keep the sheet clean as two raking shots could have put the home side in front.

Debauchery was taking its toll of Lynch as he mistimed a couple of tackles leaving Newbury to tidy up. Lynch’s night out (commented on by his Father) left him dizzy but the central pairing was holding reasonably steady.

21 minutes and a great move on the left between Homer-Dyer-Homer then on to Goodall scythed open Whitchurch left flank. Goodall’s inch perfect pass to Reeves created a gap and Reeves placed the ball high into the top corner to give us the lead. 1-0.

Lynch had to come off after 39 minutes so the versatile King dropped back into centre half with Truan coming on to join Goodall up front. The game went to sleep for a while as the heat took its toll. H/T 1-0.

A sign of intent from Whitchurch hit us at the re start. A ball out wide knocked back to a central runner had us scrambling in the middle of the park. Out wide again and the ball was hammered across, it found an unmarked forward but luckily Fawcett had seen the danger and raced out to save at feet.

We steadied ourselves and got on top. Goodall collected a Homer through ball and cutting in from the left rounded the full back to unleash a cracking shot that found the bottom corner. 2-0.

Two minutes later Dyer almost made it three with a rising effort.
59 minutes and a Homer free kick swerved towards the top corner, up went the keeper to palm it onto the post and in came Truan to hook a left foot shot into the roof of the net. 3-0.

66 minutes Goodall rounded two players on the edge of the box and a cut back ball to Dyer flew into the net from Dyers right boot. 4-0. Chas Elysee made way for Matt Newbury with twenty minutes to go and Martin Newbury came off to give Mark Beverley a run.

Both sets of fresh legs were needed as some players were visibly wilting. Of the two teams it certainly appeared as if we were holding out best as we pushed forward at every opportunity.

9 minutes to go and another Free Kick floated in for Truan to get a head to it. The keeper palmed the ball on to the post and then as the ball re bounded hit him and bounced into the net. Cruel in one way, but good for us. 5-0.

90 minutes gone and Whitchurch almost had the ball in the net as they broke through the middle. A shot from the penalty spot was superbly held by Fawcett. A quick throw to Homer a line ball, a low cross to Truan and away he went to draw the keeper and place a low shot into the net. 6-0.

We almost had seven but the normally effective Goodall went one on one and lost out to the keeper.

The whistle blew on a resounding 6-0 score line.