SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 26TH JANUARY 2008
LISS ATHLETIC 1 VERWOOD TOWN 2

First minute. Homer's free kick, Faulkner's shot, but the keeper stopped a dream start. A throw to the left and Elysee intercepted the ball. A run on goal but the ball bobbled as he shaped to shoot and the effort spun off into dead ball.

We maintained pressure and in the 6th minute Truan fastened on to a defensive blunder and gave the keeper no chance with an angled shot. 1-0.

Liss spluttered along and we took advantage of a lackadaisical approach. Goodall went close twice and then Elysee smashed a ball inches wide of the net.

Faulkner chipped the keeper with 15 minutes gone but it landed on top of the net instead of inside it.

A bit of frustration crept in and we should have been well ahead but faced a day when we were short of the cutting edge in front of the sticks. Liss defended in numbers and we meandered our way through the next ten minutes looking for someone with imagination to point the way.

Halfway through the half Goodall sped away from his marker on the halfway line but the ball bobbled badly in the area so the end result was yet another ball wide of goal.

Ten minutes to go and we saw a bit more of Liss as they put together a string of attacks down the right. Willis, for the first time had something to do and the Lynch / Giles combination were employed keeping attacks restricted to the edge of the box.

A late counter attack almost brought a reward as Yerby split Liss defence on the right and a low cross was turned wide by Dyer.

We finished the first 45 minutes ahead but not so convincing as a team capable of staying in front.

Liss came out tails up and caught us on the back foot. A couple of raids threatened to breach our defence but although Homer and Yerby cut out flank danger the next ball into the middle came angled and a player nipped in completely unmarked to tap the ball into the net from a couple if yards. It was dreadful goal to give away and emphasised our lack of concentration. 1-1.

Passing from both sides deteriorated. It looked scrappy and we saw more long ball than carpet football mainly because of the lumpy pitch.

Liss bettered the conditions for much of the half and we had to rely on Elysee and Dyer to springboard attacks on the flanks. Goodall and Truan ran hard but rarely did they get a ball to feet.

22 minutes gone and both sides had had half chances. A bit more quality was now evident and our Arnold Faulkner mid field partnership sprung several attacks mainly from the right.

Elysee went close and then Truan hammered a shot the keeper did well to turn round the post. Lynch climbed high to the cross but couldn't find the net.

82 minutes and our pressure paid off. A free kick earned on the right was taken by Faulkner. A vicious inswinger was deflected by Lynch and a defender. The ball hit the inside of the post and finished up in the corner of the net. 2-1. Faulkner laid immediate claim to the goal but Lynch has taken it to the High Court. For the time being it rests with Faulkner.

2 minutes later, Liss should have scored as they prised us open on the left and a chip into the middle was half hit and bounced into Willis' grateful arms.

Dyer rifled a great right foot shot from an Elysee cross but the home keeper had had a tremendous game and once again made a cracking diving save.

We finished the game in the Liss half and a shade thankful for the whistle blowing on a 2-1 win.