SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2007
LAVERSTOCK & FORD 3 - VERWOOD TOWN 1

Two teams in the top set and a fixture with a history of 'events'. Today looked as if it was going to be another topsy turvy game as we watched in awe a slick move from the home side slice us apart. Thirty seconds gone and there was Willis making a great save to stop L&F going ahead.

We looked shaky but some good football in the centre of the park helped steady the nerves.

Homer slipped the ball inside to Faulkner on to Reeves and a return ball to Faulkner caught L&F on the left. A hard low cross and Elysee took advantage of a gap in the box and volleyed a right foot shot wide of the keeper into the net. 1-0.

Laverstock dug in as we attacked and made no mistakes in clearing their lines. Shots from King and Reeves were blocked and cleared and then a header from Dyer was pushed wide after creeping through the defensive wall.

Laverstock relied on quick breaks to try and break us down but Yerby and Lynch were excellent at the back and very little escaped their attention.

Homer's contribution on the left should have earned another goal but Faulkners volley cleared the bar.

Freeman's extrovert abilities took him out of the back and allowed him a shot the keeper did well to hold.

Ten minutes to the end of the half and we crawled into what was supposed to be a defensive shell. We hung on to a 1-0 lead when the referee blew his whistle.

The message from Adie and Nigel to keep a tight line and concentrate seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Willis yet again at the start of a half had to bring off a save to prevent a leveller.

We looked ragged and only a shadow of the team that performed in the first half.

'In yer face'. This was the style from the home side and it paid off. They worked hard and pressurised at every opportunity. We were not allowed to settle and all credit to Laverstock they wanted the ball at every opportunity and most times won it.

Lynch Yerby Freeman and Homer were marked tight by the L&F forwards whereas we gave ground in the middle and up front.

54 minutes and the Ref awarded a penalty that was regarded as a very harsh decision. L&F didn't have any mercy though and the penalty was tucked away. 1-1.

We had a flurry of attacking football and then for some inexplicable reason gave up!!

It was like the Alamo. Lynch was delivering flying headers, Yerby kicking the ball into any direction as long as it went away from goal. Homer and Freeman must have felt like Canute as a wave of attacks washed over them, and poor old Chris Willis had to change to asbestos gloves.

It was embarrassing. The general feeling was that if someone had had the capability on the day to get the ball on the deck and demand some pride from the team we could have stormed back into the game. As it was we gave ground and L&F deserved their second goal in the 78th minute and their third in the 78th.

Eight minutes left it was as though someone had introduced an enema throughout the team. We got on top but it was too late and we handed three points to L&F.