SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2008
VERWOOD TOWN 7 AFC PORTCHESTER 1

Early pitch inspection was positive and despite another Saturday of pelting rain the game was declared 'on'.

The opening spell saw Portchester knocking the ball around and the crowd was treated to some excellent football. A quick break with 3 minutes gone and King blasted wide. The ball was worked out from the back and then it was Willis who had to make a high catch as Portchester hit back.

8 minutes and Arnold/Newbury broke on the right. A cross found Goodall and a snap shot was cleared off the line by a goalkeepers trailing foot.

11 minutes and Martin Newbury had to make a crucial header to stop a central move. His header found Faulkner, on to Dyer then to Arnold. Goodall collected the pass but his shot went wide.

18 minutes and our pressure paid off as king raced through the defence and slotted the ball past an advancing keeper. 1-0.

We worked hard in the middle to keep on top but it was a very resilient Portchester side. 25 minutes Goodall rounded his marker on the left, crossed and although King's leg didn't connect Arnold raced in to make sure the ball hit the net with a low shot from a narrow angle. 2-0.

3 minutes later Goodall reaped his reward when Arnold and Newbury combined on the right and the resultant cross was met by Goodall to send us three ahead.

8 minutes left and we were still having most of the play. Lynch put a header on to the top of the net and then Goodall again beat the keeper but his chip went over the bar.

Half Time 3-0.

Out we came for the second half but again it was Portchester in the opening few minutes who caught the eye with some good football.

11 minutes and we were back on top. Goodall and King cut through the central defence and King's shot ripped into the side netting.

We won a couple of corners and Lynch joined the forwards for the second. In it came and Lynch made no mistake powering his header into the bottom corner, 4-0.

4 minutes later Portchester won a corner and the ball fell plumb on the penalty spot. A volley and Portchester pulled one back.

We were stung. 2 minutes later Matt Newbury took a King through ball and as the keeper came off his line the ball was placed just out of reach for our 5th.

A succession of substitutions followed. Pat Yerby came on for Paul Arnold Ben Giles came on for Martin Newbury and Paul Reeves was on quickly for Faulkner.

During a brief settling in period Portchester almost snatched a second but Willis displayed superb handling taking a difficult ball in such slippy conditions.

Lynch and Elysee stopped a couple of late raids whilst Homer was his usual ebullient self, defending one minute and then sparking attacks the next. It was a great performance and raised adrenalin.

80 minutes and Matt Newbury was put through by Paul Reeves. A run down the right, a quick look, and a pin point cross found Dyer surging into the area. A right foot shot gave us a 6-1 scoreline.

89 minutes and King finished the day with a classic King poached goal to make it 7-1.

A very welcome 3 points.