SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
TUESDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2008
BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY 4 VERWOOD TOWN 1

The game set off at a cracking pace with both sides quick into the tackle. B&L moved the ball around a bit better than us but Arnold and Faulkner's efforts and energy made up for the short fall.

We had Elysee to thank for a last ditch tackle in the 12th minute as B&L broke through on the right. The cross was blocked as B&L forwards outnumbered us in the box 3-2.

We remained pegged in our half and four minutes later a cross shot was heading under the bar but Willis acrobatically threw himself backwards to tip the ball over the bar. The corner caused concern around the penalty spot but Giles moved quickly to clear.

Half way through the half we got into the game and Faulkner went close with a drive after a good move involving Goodall and Finlay.

We needed to be cautious as we pushed up and almost paid the price for negligence when a break on the right let in B&L. A deep cross and Willis saved the blushes with a dive at feet blocking the shot.

It was good end to end stuff and 35 minutes gone saw Arnold win a tackle on our penalty spot and then sparked an attack by feeding Homer on the left. Homer made ground and whipped in a shot that the keeper blocked. The clearance found an unmarked player and yet again Willis had to perform an athletic save.

Three minutes later we suffered by allowing a move to flourish outside the area and a shot whipped in from the edge of the box took a slight deflection leaving Willis this time clutching air. 0-1.

For the next five minutes we couldn't pass straight. Every time we looked for a break we gave the ball away.

44 minutes and Finlay had to come off with ligament problems and we hung on to the whistle with a deficit of 0-1.

Truan had come on for Finlay and his pace had an immediate impact as he stole away from his marker. Moving to the right he opened up B&L defence for the cross and in swept Goodall to plant the ball over the bar.

We let ourselves down again though by not giving attention to the long ball and suffered when we were opened up like a tin of sardines on the left and only a half clearance was punished with a low shot that finished up in the back of the net. 0-2.

We showed a bit of spirit by hitting back straight away and Dyer should have scored from an angled shot but his effort went inches wide with the keeper beaten. For this brief spell we looked as if we had gathered some composure and our passing had improved immeasurably. So much so that 55 minutes had Faulkner on the score sheet with a right foot blaster from 12 yards. 1-2.

We moved the ball well and some good moves sparked off from the centre of midfield should have produced goalsN.butNwe went off again.

Our passing deteriorated our running off the ball became spasmodic and of course B&L got on top.

67 minutes a sustained attacking spell saw us give away a penalty. B&L were not in a generous mood. 1-3.

72 minutes a free kick dipped into our box and under the bar. 1-4.

Willis was shell shocked. He then had to endure a closing spell where we defended in numbers but not in spirit. The shots rained in. Luckily most were from the edge of the box and Willis Lynch and Giles must have thought it was the Alamo.

Homer and Yerby tucked in for the last few minutes of siege and we survived a score line of 1-4. It could have been 10.

On Saturday we meet Farnborough NE and a performance like this will let our close rivals step above us in the division.