SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 19TH APRIL 2008
VERWOOD TOWN 2 TADLEY CALLEVA 3

17 seconds, a ball lobbed over the top of Lynch and King fell kindly. A yellow wave bore down on goal but Willis was off his line like a shot and cleared the danger. Elysee gathered the clearance and crossed deep into Tadley's box. Homer cut in but his header flipped over the bar.

The dead ball kick was swept forward again and Reeves laid off to Newbury. A cross found Homer and a vicious shot was beaten out by the keeper. Homer followed in and the keeper again saved on the near post.

6 minutes gone and Reeves flicked the ball over the centre half, on went Newbury for goal but the keeper was a bit quicker and cleared with a hefty boot.

Stevens and Homer broke away on the left and a cross found Dyer. A left foot shot was well held by the keeper.

It was end to end stuff with more of a route one approach making more chances for Tadley.

27 minutes and Tadley broke the deadlock with a simple goal handed on a plate because we left players loose on the edge of the box. 0-1.

We tried to score but just didn't have the wherewithal up front.

35 minutes another lapse in concentration, 0-2.

39 minutes Tadley produced their best move of the game with a good move down the left and a switch ball right caught us out allowing a low shot to hit the back of the net 0-3.

For the next couple of minutes we tried again to score but Tadley's defence gave nothing away and we went in at half time 0-3 down.

We didn't look as if we had any adrenalin running through the side and Tadley pushed us back. Lynch was a power house at the back and King's contribution in reading the play was a massive boost. Stevens had bedded in so we looked reasonably solid as we weathered the storm.

Dyer produced a mazy dribble and shot but the keeper was having a good game and took the effort easily.

We didn't have any rhythm and the ball was gifted too many times to the opposition. We lived dangerously for a while and Willis had to make several saves to keep Tadley from going further ahead.

Halfway through the half we suddenly clicked. Homer foraged for the ball on the left and won a hard tackle. A quick pass, left to Matt Newbury and Tadley opened up like a can of sardines. A point blank save was the result of Newbury's effort.

Elysee then won a race for the ball, another low cross into the area and in crashed Arnold to fire over.

Reeves, a poor man's action man, worked the ball wide. Homer took over and a high ball was volleyed wide by Dyer.

We couldn't crack the score line. Newbury again fired wide and then Arnold hammered a shot inches over the bar.

81 minutes and Homer pushed forward, rounded the full back and was felled in the box. Newbury stepped up and put the ball in the top right hand corner of the net. 1-3.

We maintained pressure. It was a rousing ten minutes.

86 minutes Martin Newbury swept the ball wide, a chip over the centre half and on went Matt Newbury to beat the keeper with a low shot into the bottom corner. 2-3.

93 minutes and Tadley's keeper made the save that gave Tadley 3 points as he beat out a cracking Homer left foot volley.