SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2008
TADLEY CALLEVA 3 VERWOOD TOWN 1

We were up for this one. We were convinced our recent run of poor results had to come to an end and looked forward to picking up three points.

We turned up with the squad voting for a change of name. Crocks United was elected.

Dan Goodall out with severe bruising following a night out with a new girl friend (rough in more ways than one), James Finlay out for the season, Pete King out for the season (both tendon damage) Paul Stephens out for the season (don't know where) Paul Reeves may resume training close season. Carl Chivers (Ham String) and Paul Arnold Foot damage. Of these both Carl and Paul had to play because of other absences.

We kicked off nevertheless with optimism. Carl Chivers limped after the first through ball but the keeper strolled out to clear. Lynch powered a clearance header back up front and this time Homer pounced to round his marker only to fire the ball over the bar.

Elysee then came into the picture with a good run down the line and a deep cross was headed back in by Steve Reeves. Chivers was still in the area after the last attack (couldn't get back) and was inches short of touching the ball into the net.

We had a good twenty minutes of the game and then realised we had another 70 minutes to play. We took a break.

Tadley looked good. In reality anyone would have looked good against a side struggling with so many injuries.

Murray and Reeves had a couple of good crosses, but Tadley had a stroke of luck in the 40th minutes when a cross from the left was fired low into the box and poor old Richard Green was judged to have handled. A penalty. The decision .very harsh. No sympathy was expressed by Tadley's penalty expert as he slammed the ball past Dan Fawcett.

Half Time 0-1.

Just before the half time whistle Charlie Elysee had suffered a head injury in a bad collision. He had to forego the rest of the game. Dan Eldridge, Physio supreme did a fantastic job in bandaging the wound, so much so the Proprietor of Tadley's Indian Palace offered him a special Keema Vindaloo and with an additional 20% off the bill. Charlie's Turban and Dan's expertise did the trick and we are happy to say Charlie should be OK for next week.

51 minutes gone and we pushed forward, Chivers' deceptive pace fooled a defender and he was floored. Up stepped Moore to take the free kick. An inch perfect floater and in soared Lynch to place an unstoppable header into the net. 1-1.

4 minutes later and Arnold had to come off. We now needed to alter the formation….Who better than Willis to give us a new dimension in attack. In he went at centre forward. Chivers went wide right (finished up in the Drovers Arms) Steve Reeves moved into mid field and Pat Yerby went to right back. Then to cap it all Steve Moore's ham string affected his movement so we had further juggling.

It was then a feast of scramble football. On one occasion we cleared an attack and a throw from Fawcett found Hopalong Chivers. A header inside to Reeves and a through ball to Willis set us on the attack. Back funnelled seven of the Tadley side and we saw a spectacle akin to the siege of the Alamo, 14 players all heading for Tadley's Goal. The shot from Willis was blocked. A high up and under from the Tadley full back and we saw 14 players all wheel round and chase the ball back into our area. It looked like a mass emigration.

A scrappy goal gave Tadley the lead with 73 minutes gone and then with six minutes left Fawcett was caught off his line and a gentle lob dropped over his head into the net. 1-3.

Remarkably we had a bit of fight left but couldn't apply it properly.

Richard Green placed a header on top of the net and then Homer blasted a left foot shot just wide of the post.

The game finished with Tadley collecting the points and a score line of 1-3.

Next week Crocks United face Petersfield at home. Will Adie Arnold make a return? One thing we can be sure of is Nick O'Hara in the dug out.