SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
WEDNESDAY 20TH AUGUST 2008
VERWOOD TOWN 0 – RINGWOOD TOWN 2

Cousins floated a free kick into the box. Lynch stormed through a packed area but planted his header wide of the post. Only 1 min 30 secs had elapsed. A glorious chance missed.

The game opened out with both sides pressing for the lead. Willis made a good stop and a counter attack had the Ringwood keeper making a great save from Goodall.

Arnold was the catalyst for attacks linking defence and attack but already we saw tendencies of long ball creeping in.

Dyer slammed the ball into the box and King was inches away from putting us into he lead.

Ringwood upped the pace and Willis had to produce a cracking double save with fifteen minutes gone. Lynch then headed clear as Ringwood pushed us back. Arnold was still the powerhouse and got us back into contention with some strong tackles and a bit of foresight with distribution.

King Goodall and Dyer were asked to chase the longer ball and we looked scrappy. Oddly enough we were still enjoying the larger percentage of play and had chances that we spurned, later to regret.

Goodall and Homer broke through a couple of times but our finishing needed a lot of correction. Ringwood made the odd break but Elysee and Murray at full back generally had the flanks under control.

With five minutes to go Goodall wormed his way past the full back and crossed for Dyer to try a shot. The ball hit the inside of the post and bounced out to Goodall who headed the ball just wide of the keeper but over the bar.

The half finished 0-0 and hadn't produced a lot to shout about.

Changes had to be made because of an injury to Dan Goodall so a different formation picked up the game with Dyer moving to centre forward spot and Elysee moving wide right.

4 minutes and Dyer had a chance but it went straight to the keeper. Arnold and Cousins worked hard and after 9 minutes Arnold cut through the middle and a cross to Homer split the Ringwood defence. Homer's cross found Dyer and a low shot was deflected from goal and cleared.

At this point Ringwood picked up their game and a more aggressive streak entered their football. We were second best to many loose balls and our passing lost its edge.

20 minutes we were on the back foot and a shot from the left was athletically turned over the bar by Willis.

23 minutes and we cracked. Ringwood were now having the best of possession and good football cut us apart in the middle allowing a one on one that produced the first goal of the game. 0-1.

Could we get back in it? The answer was written when Arnold had to come off. Ringwood seized the middle and while we were still intent in trying a long ball Ringwood got their game together and enjoyed putting some decent moves together.

Willis was continuously in action and our work was cut out at the back trying to contain lively Ringwood forwards.

Moore and Lynch looked stretched and with five minutes of the game left we lost our shape and an attack was only half cleared. The ball spun loose and an easy tap in that went unchallenged produced a score line of 0-2.

We didn't have enough to fight back and the game petered out with Ringwood still on top. We need to get back to some basics for the visit of Hythe & Dibden on Saturday.