SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2007
FLEET SPURS 0 - VERWOOD TOWN 1

It would have been terrific to say how well the game was played. In fact it could have been added to the medical register of cures for insomniacs.

A few things happened of note and began with a Paul Arnold raking pass with two minutes gone. Dyer had space and knocked a good cross into the box hoping for a Goodall or King head to divert the ball into the net. The goalkeeper made an easy catch.

Five minutes of arial combat followed before the ball hit terra firma. King Dyer and Giles combined to release Dyer. A pass to Arnold, on to Goodall and a snap shot was saved by the keeper.

A minute later Yerby slipped the ball to Arnold and a cross from the right enjoyed complete freedom as it cleared the area and into touch.

Homer was trying to play on the deck but got so cheesed off he decided to run through the Fleet team and score. It was an over ambitious plan as he gave the ball away on the half way line.

Fleet couldn't believe their luck and knocked a long ball into space behind Lynch. On raced Fleet's forward and maybe he was born in Verwood as the ball followed the way of other attempts and flew through the ozone layer.

36 minutes and Goodall picked up the ball on the half way line, raced free of the centre half and planted a shot past the advancing keeper. To see the ball nestling in the back of the net after such a mish mash of a game was unbelievable but the goal stood and we went in at half time 1-0 ahead.

Would the second half be better?. Good job nobody held their breath waiting.

Willis got in the way of an equaliser and then made another good save as Fleet pushed forward.

Deep Relief and Ibuleive were employed on stiff necks as the game once again deteriorated. Chris Lynch and Tom Freeman were proud bearers of the 'Highest Today' award as the ball once again enjoyed space.

Homer and Arnold joined in the fun heading the ball to no one giving Fleet more possession than they had had in the previous half.

Fleet should have scored as we gave freedom in the box. The ball dropping from various heights wasn't being picked up and Fleet were first to each landing, trying various types of shots. A couple of overheads went wide, a volley was well held by Willis and then a very good effort (maybe he caught the ball wrong) forced one of the best saves of the game from our keeper.

Fleet had a bright spell and looked more the part than we did. Luckily they couldn't find their cutting edge. Much worse for us was we couldn't find the ball !!

Goodall then managed to race from one side of the pitch to the other to pick up a random clearance. Running clear of the Fleet defence he found much to his astonishment that King was alongside. Being friendly Dan waited for him to catch up and then passed to see if King could notch one. Pete was overwhelmed with the generosity and passed it back. By this time the Fleet defence had laboured back and intercepted the ball. A long kick up field cleared Lynch and a one on one emerged. A rasping shot brought out a great save from Willis.

46 minutes and Willis produced the save of the match to keep a clean sheet. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that the Fleet Manager must have felt robbed of at least a point.

The history books will record a 1-0 win and three points on the board. In reality we were lucky to survive without a goal being scored against us.