SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 2008
VERWOOD TOWN 1 WARMINSTER TOWN 0

This was a crucial game to win. Fitness tests on Luke Homer and Pete King allowed both to play so it was just a couple of tweaks to the side that were made by Adie and Nigel. 3 away games in the next two weeks meant judicious use of the squad so Mark Beverley Ben Truan and Pat Yerby warmed the bench.

We attacked straight from the start. Homer spotted Dyer on the left and a line ball created space for Dyer to hammer a low cross into the box, King was inches wide from a goal in the first minute.

We pressed forward and Goodall should have scored with a left foot rasper but Warminster's keeper was on top form and safely gathered the shot.

Warminster ground their way into the game and Willis was busy for a while as we were pushed back to defend the edge of the area.

Faulkner was emerging as Verwood's springboard and prompted from the middle of the park. Arnold's gritty performance gave a nice balance and we maintained pressure. Finley whipped in a couple of good crosses but Goodall and King couldn't find the net.

A goalmouth scramble saw the ball knocked off the line and then Goodall pounced to hit a left foot volley on to the bar.

King had a header cleared and then we had retaliation from Warminster as they pushed us back on the defensive.

Willis made a good save and Giles was busy supporting Lynch against an aerial bombardment.

Two good efforts from Warminster's front runners whistled into the side netting but they, like ourselves couldn't find the back of the net.

The half finished 0-0.

We are notoriously bad starters in the second half and we trudged our way through the first ten minutes of this one. Warminster made inroads and Willis produced two excellent saves to keep the sheet clean.

We got better and Elysee pushed forward promoting attacks. Homer overlapping on the left helped to stretch the game and we tried hard for a goal.

Homer's cross with 20 minutes gone was flicked on by King's head and a brilliant save gave us a corner. Lynch headed over.

Then a sad incident as a Warminster defender suffered a broken ankle. The game was held up for a short period but our rhythm hadn't been disrupted and we pressed forward again.

Warminster's game relied more on the break and we had to keep from pushing up too far. Lynch and Giles were excellent in mopping up the central raids whilst Luke Homer and Chas Elysee did extremely well on the flanks.

King and Goodall tried hard to pin the defenders from hitting the long ball and we witnessed a mixed game with a growing belief that we were staring at a 0-0 result.

Then Warminster sparked. A great move in the centre split us open and a shot was palmed out by Willis. A general melee followed. Lynch got the ball away from the penalty spot but it fell to a Warminster forward who hammered a rising ball that Willis did brilliantly well tipping it over the bar. In came the corner and a glancing header was superbly saved by Willis. It was a hairy few minutes.

Faulkner took control and using the flying Dyer broke Warminster's brief hold on the game. Dyer raced a way and cutting insider hit a left foot shot that took a deflection for a corner. In it came and Lynch out jumped everyone but his header skimmed the bar.

6 minutes to go Homer skipped a tackle and from 30 yards hit a dipping volley that cleared the keeper and zipped into the roof of the net to give us a precious goal.

Warminster mounted pressure from the re start trying hard for a leveller but we kept tight at the back except for one tremendous effort that brought out the best save of the game from Willis.

Result 1-0