SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2007
TOTTON & ELING 2 - VERWOOD TOWN 3

T&E's recent performances meant a real test for us on this Boxing Day fixture. We were up for it and in the first minute and a half we attacked down the right with a move sparked by Murray and Reeves. Goodall rounded off with a rasping shot but straight at the keeper.

Totton bounced back. A quick move on the left looked as if the home team had breached our defence but Yerby stormed across to force the player wide and eventually into dead ball.

9 minutes and Goodall combined with Reeves to free up Faulkner. Shifting left just outside the area Faulkner's shot brought off a great save from the keeper.

The next ten minutes belonged to T&E. Good approach work, players working hard for each other meant constant threats to our goal. Willis excelled.

Half way through the half we found our rhythm again and hit back. Dyer made space, and a telling pass gave room for a Reeves effort. The ball flew wide of the angle of bar and upright.

We were breached with 12 minutes of the half remaining and the shot that beat Willis looked destined for the net but Lynch flung himself along the line and cleared.

The remaining time on the clock belonged to T&E. Willis palmed a rising shot over the bar and Elysee helped the corner to continue out of the area. In it came again and Yerby won the race to hit the ball clear of danger.

Lynch and Faulkner worked the ball out from the next cross and fed Goodall to give us a brief release of goalmouth pressure. Back it came, Willis punched a long distance shot clear of the area and Murray helped it further upfield with the highest clearance of the afternoon.

The referee sent both teams in at half time level pegging. 0-0.

The malaise continuesNout we came with pearls of wisdom ringing in our ears and immediately went one down. We allowed a player to run right through the middle and then pick out his team mate 2 yards out to plant a header into the bottom corner. 0-1. !!!!!!!!

Five minutes later a free kick floated into the box was headed past Willis from again two yards. 0-2.

Surprisingly, no heads dropped. We gathered ourselves together and Arnold and Reeves began controlling their patch. Arnold's through ball found Goodall and a cracking effort was tipped round the post. The corner found Lynch and a great save prevented us closing the gap. Homer and Dyer were producing good crosses and with 11 minutes of the half gone Elysee joined up with Reeves. On raced Goodall taking the ball left and his cross was turned into the net by Reeves. 1-2.

We felt we had crossed the barrier and really worked hard to stay on top. Goodall Elysee and Dyer went close with shots and then Goodall went one on one to bring off a stunning save from the keeper.

27 minutes and Goodall again caused havoc with a great run and this time the keeper legs prevented the ball crossing the line. Up it popped to Reeves. A hook shot was palmed off the line by the full back. A red card followed and then Goodall got his just reward sending the keeper the wrong way to slam home the penalty. 2-2.

Ten minutes left and Elysee ran free of his marker but lost his legs to a hard tackle. The player had already been booked for an offence in the first half so T&E were down to 9 men.

Four minutes later Dyer headed on a throw and Reeves caught the ball on the volley to give us the lead. 3-2.

6 minutes to go and Lynch claimed he was head butted when he did a triple somersault and a swallow dive. The referee wasn't impressed. A red card and we were down to ten men.

T&E moved up a notch and we defended in numbers. The odd break had the crowd on its toes but there were no more goals and we left T&E with the full three points.