SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 15TH MARCH 2008
VERWOOD TOWN 5 FLEET SPURS 2

The rain was persistent but the pitch playable. We fielded the same side that won at USP following their gutsy performance and with the only change forced upon us that of Pete King coming in to join Dan Goodall up front.

We got stuck in straight away and forced a corner on the right. An inswinger….up went Chris Lynch…. and the ball nestled in the back of the net 1-0 with only two minutes on the clock.

We continued the pressure and showed a better quality of passing today. The ball pinged between players it was good to watch.

We pushed forward on the right. Elysee sped past midfield and swept the ball wide to Pat Yerby. Yerby cut inside the full back and unleashed a crackerjack from the edge of the box…2-0.

9 minutes gone and Goodall moved to the left, away went Dyer and a pin point pass gave Dyer the cutting edge in the run to the box. A cut back from the line, in came Faulkner to hammer the ball just over the bar.

Spurs hit back and it was our turn to defend against a tricky forward line. Martin Newbury was saviour with a timely sliding tackle when Spurs had broken through.

Goodall's movement off the ball was spot on. Players were being dragged wide allowing King and Matt Newbury space to try their luck on goal.

Spurs' keeper was in cracking form and shots that we expected to put numbers on the sheet were well saved.

We had to back pedal well into the half as Spurs took control in the middle. Willis was put to the test. Fortunately he was in great form and pulled of a string of saves keeping the ball out of the net.

Goodall and Dyer combined on the left, a typical Dyer cross and the ball was in the net again from Matt Newbury. A flag on the far side was upheld for an offside decision.

The half finished 2-0.

Adie Arnold and Nigel Reeves had changed their underpants. 2-0 up and a good first half. Would our second half malaise continue?

Homer cut down the line, ball wide to Dyer, raced on for the return and whipped a cross into the box. In came King and a left foot super strike beat the keeper 3-0.

This week we didn't drop our effort. We pressed forward but inexperience was like a shining light. We pushed up and several shots were blocked in the area. Then came a desperate clearance high and long. We had one player only at the back. Two on one. The two won this one and the ball was stabbed past Willis for a score line of 3-1.

Spurs tucked in. The goal had done them a power of good and they hit back. Yerby tracked back to make tackles outside our area and Lynch alongside Martin Newbury had to be extremely dominant to keep Spurs from scoring another.

A few close shaves emerged as the ball was pumped into the box. Willis' handling was superb. We weathered the storm.

Goodall continued his good work working the line and the support from King Faulkner and Matt Newbury meant we pushed Spurs back again.

14 minutes left and we forced a corner on the right. Dyer took the kick. The ball curled into the box, over the keeper and hit the inside of the post. The spin this time took it over the line and put us 4-1 ahead.

5 minutes later we were under the cosh. Spurs worked hard and forced us to defend in the box in numbers. The ball was whipped in low and a scramble to clear had the ball trapped between feet. A half clearance bounced around and the ball squirmed its way over the line. 4-2.

Spurs had adrenalin flowing but we didn't buckle and midfield worked hard to regain control.. The pitch by this time was treacherous and mistakes were occurring all over.

We stuck to our task and with a couple of minutes remaining forced a corner. The cross from Dyer was penalty spot bound. Up went several players and we won a penalty. Up stepped Matt Newbury. 5-2.

A satisfactory three points….5-2 scoreline.