SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2007
VERWOOD TOWN 2 - LISS ATHLETIC 0

2 minutes Goodall found himself free but couldn't finish.

3 minutes Elysee and Freeman exchanged passes, Freeman ran on and pulled the ball back into the box. The keeper made a great catch frustrating Pete King.

The long clearance found a runner but Willis was quick off his line to clear the danger. It was a bright opening spell with both sides trying to play football on a greasy surface.

4 minutes and Dyer slipped the ball through a square back four. On ran King for a one on one. King's placed shot clipped the outside of the post and went wide. It was a good opportunity lost.

Liss battled back. Some entertaining football saw them pin us back but we were solid at the back and Willis' handling was superb under difficult conditions.

12 minutes and Homer broke on the left. A cross field pass found Elysee on the right. A run to the bye line and his cross was cleared. Goodall picked up the ball to go left. Another deep cross into the box and King rose above everyone to heads forcefully for the top corner. The keeper made a great save stopping the ball just under the bar.

The game see sawed for a period and lost its bite. Passes started to go astray, maybe the conditions contributed in this regard but neither goal was under threat.

With fifteen minutes to go we forced our way into the game but Liss had brought with them a keeper on top form. King's header from a Dyer cross was palmed out. Arnold's shot went wide and then King hit the post with the keeper beaten.

Half Time 0-0

52 seconds on the clock. Dyer and Freeman threaded their way through a defensive wall but again the man they couldn't beat made a great save at the foot of the post.

2 minutes and Dyer's corner was headed over the bar by King. The dead ball kick was powered back into the box from Lynch. Elysee found space and hammered a shot that helped nature in stripping four trees of their leaves.

We had the majority of play but Liss were always dangerous on the break. Luckily Lynch and Yerby were very conscious of last week's lesson and kept tight at the back.

Willis made a couple of good catches from balls flung into the area but was never really troubled.

14 minutes and Yerby made a brilliant tackle on the edge of the box. A ball inside to Faulkner, out to Dyer, back to Homer on to Goodall and a cracking shot on target brought a good save from the keeper. It was a good move bringing an ever growing confidence into our play.

King skied a volley and then Elysee hit the netting. We were trying hard but could not find that cutting edge.

Goodall was finding room as Liss seemingly tired. Another run down the right a deep cross and King was inches from touching home.

Willis then brought off the save of the match with a save that palmed a volley to the underside of the bar and saw it bounce out to safety.

It was frustrating. We got back on top but 71 minutes witnessed a lob from Goodall clawed down to safety by the keeper. Then Elysee shot into the side netting. King seconds later ran into the box but the keeper saved at feet.

79 minutes and Homer fired a cross that this time allowed Elysee the comfort of space. A rasping shot squirmed under the keeper. 1-0.

Liss tired. We found space and Homer provided another delightful pass to Goodall so…81 minutes gone and Goodall closed the scoring and shut the game up at 2-0.