SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2008
VERWOOD TOWN 1 – PETERSFIELD TOWN 1

The injury list had grown yet again since last Saturday. Fortunately Adie Arnold and Nigel Reeves had been head hunting and were fortunate in securing the signature of Adie Butler. Adie came in at full back for his first game for the Club.

Will Cobly came in at right back and Ben Giles swept behind Richard Green. Chris Lynch continued with his new career at centre forward.

Steve Moore was first to catch the eye collecting a loose ball in the second minute and blasting a rising shot that just cleared the bar. A minute later it was Moore again linking with Lynch to try another attempt at goal but Lynch's header went over the bar.

Petersfield then had a good spell of possession and played some good stuff. This week though we didn't stand around, and fought our way back into the game. A great through ball from Dyer freed up Lynch and with only the keeper to beat Lynch lobbed the ball on to the roof of the net.

Half way through the half Butler intercepted a cross field ball and chipping the full back released Homer for a shot at goal. The keeper brought off a good save.

29 minutes and Homer's cross was headed over the bar by Lynch.

We cracked in the 37th minutes when a shot from the edge of the box was beaten out by Fawcett but an unmarked forward had an easy task of placing the ball into the net.

46 minutes and Butler forced his way past two defenders and slipped the ball to Homer out wide left. Homer cut into the box and chipped the ball to the far post. In came Lynch to volley a narrow angled shot past the keeper to level scores.

Half Time 1-1

In the first minute Butler made ground on the left and a low crossfield ball found Moore. A rising shot went wide.

7 minutes gone and Green won a fierce tackle. A through ball found Lynch….a ball wide to Elysee…a cross and Homer smashed a cracking left foot shot that the keeper did well to catch.

Then it was Petersfield's turn. A quick break on the left a deep cross and the ball was volleyed with venom. Fawcett threw himself backwards and a finger tip flicked the ball on to the bar. Out it came for another shot to be hammered in and Butler cleared, but only to the edge of the area. In it came again and Green made a crucial block on the line. In came Cobly to slam the ball high up field.

We gradually worked our way back into the game and a Dyer corner was met by Homer in the six yard box. A flick was enough to beat the keeper but the full back blocked the ball on the line and cleared,

71 minutes and Pet4ersfield broke our resistance in the middle of the park. A crossfield pass was hammered low across the area. A ground shot looked earmarked for the bottom corner of the net but Fawcett stabbed out a foot and trapped the ball next to the post. A close call.

2 minutes later Reeves lobbed the keeper to watch the ball agonisingly clawed away from creeping under the bar by a very athletic goalie.

Butler again made a timely clearance with 9 minutes to go as the game moved quickly end to end.

6 minutes left and Fawcett made a cracking double save to keep Petersfield from taking the lead.

Elysee powered his way past the full back from Fawcett's throw and a low drive was turned away by the keeper.

93 minutes and Dyer's Corner was met by Lynch. The header flew into the net. Celebrations were brief. The referee ruled a foul….Harsh…

Full time 1-1… and a gritty performance.