SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 10th NOVEMBER 2007
VERWOOD TOWN 2 – UNITED SERVICES PORTSMOUTH 2

A very emotional Nigel Reeves sunk further into despair when The Samaritans wouldn't accept his call. In front twice, then gifting equalisers….he emulated Victor Meldrew's 'I couldn't believe it'.

Judge for yourself.

Two minutes gone, Dyer coasted past a static defence and a low cross hit Charlie Elysee and spun past the keeper. 1-0.

USP played some good football in the middle of the park but without any penetration. The game meandered. Excitement was a rare commodity. The ball pinged around but neither keeper during the first 15 minutes had much to do. (Except the USP keeper in the second minute).

Goodall gave hope of something to shout about with a classic spurt away from his marker but a left foot shot went agonisingly wide with the keeper beaten.

USP then delivered a reasonable spell of attacking football keeping us pegged back in our half but that killer touch was missing from their finishing.

Lynch and Willis cleared a couple of dangerous attacks and then Willis made a great save from a free kick that was heading for the top corner.

We had a bit of a flurry towards the end of the half as USP tried to break on the right but Luke Homer not only stopped the raid on the edge of the box but then proceeded to show his attacking strength. A run down the line, skipping over a sliding tackle and then hammering a shot the keeper did extremely well to palm away.

The half finished 1-0.

We trundled out for the second half and picked up on a sedate pace. It saved our visitors exerting themselves.

Chas Elysee missed a couple of golden opportunities and Dan Goodall fired over the bar.

We gathered pace. King broke free and hit the post, Goodall shot straight at the keeper and Dyer hit a low flying aircraft. We looked as if we might just score a goal…..eventually.

USP picked up their game and after a spell of pressure broke into our box. Ben G appalled at such tactics delivered one of his red mist shoulder charges and the player surfed to the penalty spot.

The goalkeeper pounded forward and slammed the penalty past Willis to level the score.

We hit back and King released Goodall to try a shot but again the keeper produced a great save.

The game drifted and the spectators were treated to a hypnotic ten minutes. Then a mistake in USP defence gave us a corner.

Dyer curled the ball just under the bar. The keeper made a despairing lunge pushing the ball on to the underside of the bar and it bounced into the bottom corner. 2-1.

We had the game stitched up. Eight minutes to go and in front. We sauntered to the middle, kicked off again and allowed USP the freedom of Potterne.

Willis must have felt punch drunk. Two minutes later we watched the ball fly into the net. 2-2. Willis had to perform heroics as USP went for the kill. Luckily they couldn't finish.

We had a crack for a brief few seconds remaining of the game but we were wild and woolly. The game finished 2-2.