SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2007
VERWOOD TOWN 4 - EAST COWES VICTORIA 2

What a shock. TV camera crew, a clean shaven and a very much awake Forbes Phillipson-Masters…….and into the dressing room trooped Charlie Elysee and a red eyed droopy Paul Arnold. Those of us left in the dark wondered if it was a new Comedy series. It turned out to be a feature length documentary for ATV showing what can happen to a footballer in his twilight years. Despite his age Forbes has weathered well but today help from a mobile oxygen tank and a defibrillator gave that extra lift. From a distance he looked well.

Forbes team talk was a gem. Excellent preparation in timing enabled his lips to move in exact unison with Adie's pearls of wisdom, spoken from behind a screen.

We moved out to the pitch together so that there wouldn't be a need for wide screen…of course all except Dan Goodall who was still posing in the doorway trying to ripple his stomach paunch.

The preening stopped when East Cowes dusted us down on the right and a simple ball in the box was tapped into the net. 0-1. 4 minutes gone and we were behind. Adie polished his head and it was obvious his thoughts had shot back to the Fleet game.

We got better. Homer engineered a move down the left and Goodall's shot went just over the bar.

Faulkner's busy style in the middle sparked several raids but the classic of the half was a Homer, Goodall move on the left. An opening allowed a pass to King just inside the area. A dip of the shoulder sent the defender the wrong way and King's drive across the box was diverted into the net from Elysee's head. 1-1.

We went in at the whistle looking slightly the better side.

Dyer had suffered an ankle injury towards the latter end of the first half and on came Ben Giles to slot in at full back with Luke Homer moving to hog the left touch line.

We were still settling when Vics produced a cracking piece of football and split us wide open. A cut back from the dead ball line flew across the face of goal and a flying header put the Vics back in front 2-1, with only 2 minutes of the half on the clock.

Forbes had worked his scintillating magic at half time and his team talk had the desired affect. Adie added his usual down to earth comments. The film 'crew' were treated to a Verwood special. Goodall latched on to a Faulkner pass, ran past a defender and blasted a shot the keeper did well to block. In stormed King to blast the ball home from 12 inches. 2-2.

This time we carried the game to Vics, and Arnold, Faulkner and Elysee worked hard to stem Vics progress into our half. The long ball over the top was cut out regularly by Yerby and Lynch.

Freeman was enjoying himself linking with Goodall and King. We felt it inevitable that we would notch another and with ten minutes of the half gone King turned provider slipping a ball through the defence. Homer raced free and a rasping shot across the keeper whipped up the net. 3-2.

Vics worked hard and for the next ten minutes we were on the back foot as they pushed us into defensive mode. Yerby and Lynch were outstanding. Willis looking more and more confident each week brought off a stunning diving save to stop a leveller.

Thirty minutes gone and another classic King pass threaded through Vics defence found Goodall. This time Dan's trusty right foot did the business and we went four up.

We went hell for leather to get a fifth but despite some good efforts Vics prevented us scoring again.