BOURNEMOUTH FA (SATURDAY) LEAGUE DIVISION 1
SATURDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2008
VERWOOD TOWN RESERVES 0 - SUTTONERS CIVIL 1

Team
1. Colin Randall
2. Dean Evans
3. James Murray
4. Will Cobley
5. Pete Eyre
6. Gary Martin
7. Martin Newbury
8. Steve Reeves
9. Matt Newbury
10. Adam Richmond
11. Pete Hunt
12. Lee Pidgley (for Adam Richmond 6o mins)
13. Andy Martin (for Steve Reeves 68 mins)
14. John Homer (for James Murray 75 mins)

Report

Coming up against an unbeaten side who are no doubt favourites for the league title is a challenge for both Managers and players. Tactical changes were made with the formation and from the first whistle we went about our plan. The players had been told to be patient, this match had every potential of only having one goal. Anybody watching would have agreed we had the better of the first half, although there were chances at both ends the closest anyone got was them hitting the post, but the majority of chances fell to us and if Dean Evans shot was six inches lower or Pete Hunts header had gone the other side of the post we may well have led at half time. Stiff the break came and up until then we had performed well.

We knew they would regroup and come at us in the second half and we were not disappointed. However, we equipped ourselves well and in truth it was fairly even, again neither goalkeeper was worked particularly hard. Twenty minutes in though they broke forward, a ball down our right flank saw their forward chasing for the ball Our whippet Deano gave chase and got to the ball first when a good old shoulder barge sent him sprawling and with their player in possession breaking into the box.
Most of our defence had stopped expecting Dean to win the ball, therefore when the lad crossed it their other forward had a yard of space and finished first time with a crisp left foot shot from 8 yards.

We then struggled for 10 minutes and were perhaps fortunate not to concede a second, however, we got our composure back. Fitness was beginning to tell and the game became more spread out, but it was end to end. Again no real clear cut chances until the last minute when we broke forward, a cross was put in and Pete Eyre should have volleyed home the equaliser from close range, however it was diverted out for a corner.

A relieved Suttoners at the final whistle knew they had been. in a hard match and we were being showered with compliments. We can take the positives from this and our overall performance, but we still didn't get a deserved point!