SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 2008
VERWOOD TOWN 3 – AMESBURY TOWN 4

It was a reasonable team we managed to cobble together for this evening fixture. We were confident of a good result and took ourselves to the pitch surrounded by Rip Raps and Rockets as Verwoods population held yet another celebration for Guy Fawkes failed effort in trying to blow up parliament. It surely would have been more enjoyable if he had succeeded.

Maybe it was the thought of after match celebrations that kept minds away from concentrating on an attack down the right resulting in a low cross being diverted into the net from under the bar. 0-1 and 8 minutes gone!!.

Homer was the first to show recovery with a run at Amesbury's defence. Threading his way through a tightly packed back seven his shot was well held by a confident keeper.

We forced a corner minutes later and Lynch soared above the opposition to power a header over the bar.

Amesbury looked a bit sharper than us and warranted a goal with a good move after 15 minutes but Fawcett's athleticsm was enough to keep the ball from crossing the line.

20 minutes and Homer Goodall and Homer again moved swiftly through mid field. A low cross and Elysee was inches away from connecting with the ball.

25 minutes and Amesbury spoiled the temporary lift in spirits by scoring a second.

27 minutes and they had even less consideration by slotting in a third after a good move on the right.

Half Time…0-3.

News filtered through just before the start of the second half that Fabio had left. It wasn't that he'd seen enough it was that he had fallen through one of our chairs with no back on!!

Our half time talk paid off. A terrific bit of football and with two minutes gone we forced a corner. The ball pinged around the box and Reeves smashed an unstoppable shot past the keeper. No celebrations, the 'goal' was ruled offside.

17 minutes and Homer sped in from the left to meet a cross. The ball kicked the net up with a stranded goalkeeper clutching air. The ref ruled the 'goal' offside.

Amesbury had lost a bit of rhythm but whipped the net up again with 25 minutes of the half gone making a score line of 0-4.

We didn't give up. We plugged away. Faulkner sparked revival with a good ball out to Elysee. A deep cross and Goodall shot over the bar.

Reeves and Cousins exchanged passes and ploughed a furrow through the visitors defence. Arnold smashed the ball over the bar.

Fawcett then performed heroics as Amesbury hit back with some good football. Moore steadied the ship and we moved forward. A high ball into the box and Goodall's attempt at volleying goalwards failed miserably. Heads didn't drop though and Goodall redeemed himself immediately with a cracking solo run and a shot that the keeper did well to save.

40 minutes and Dyer raced free on the left. Sighting the keeper slightly out of his line, Dyer took advantage and hit a rising shot into the roof of the net.. 1-4.

46 minutes Lynch made his presence known in the box and the pass found him on the edge of the penalty area. Wasting no time Lynch made it 2-4.

48 minutes Reeves smashed a third. Could we make the draw?. The ref said no. Result was a fighting defeat, 3-4.