SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2008
AFC PORTCHESTER 1 VERWOOD TOWN 1

We should have been away to Portchester but because of some problem Portchester had with their lighting the league re directed the fixture to Potterne.

We looked good in the opening stages. Reeves had a fierce shot saved with only two minutes gone. 6 minutes and Moore's free kick flew inches over the bar.

Portchester hit back with good approach work on the right. The cross fortunately was 'toppped' by the centre forward. Fawcett safely gathered the effort and a quick throw found Homer. A pass to Chivers was pushed on to Reeves then Dyer hit a low cross for Arnold to volley on to the bar. An attempted clearance flew for a corner. The inswinger was headed back by Reeves. In came Moore to hammer a shot inches over the bar. It was a good move deserving a goal.

Minutes later we maintained pressure resulting in Homer trying a shot that followed the same trajectory as Moore's effort.

Portchester gathered momentum. Some excellent football had us on the back foot but Fawcett was in top form and looked unbeatable.

23 minutes we forced a corner in came Lynch to force his way through a ruck of players to head the ball inches over the bar.

Cobly and Dyer combined well and Dyer raced free to test the keeper. The keeper won.

Faulkner and Arnold tussled for the mid field against eager opponents. It was a stalemate position so Portchester switched to dropping the ball over the back four and forced us back.

The score was still 0-0 when the whistle blew at half time.

One minute gone and Portchester forced a corner. The header looked as if it would put the visitors ahead but Homer had other thoughts and cleared the danger.

The game turned a bit drab as passes went astray and it took a good 15 minutes before any semblance of decent attacks could be seen. Unfortunately it was Portchester that had the edge and once again we back pedalled to contain attacks.

Half way through the half Chivers whipped in a low hard cross. The defender tried to clear but it spun past the keeper to put us in front. 0-1.

We pushed forward and Homer tried a low volley the keeper did well to save. The throw was intercepted by Faulkner and a quick through ball to Chivers opened up Portchester. Shooting boots had been forgotten. The ball went high and wide.

It was Fawcett's turn to be busy as Portchester mounted several attacks. We wilted. Shots from the edge of the box though were well covered by Fawcett but with 37 minutes gone a Portchester corner was headed for goal. Faulkner was unlucky to get in the way and a deflection sent Fawcett the wrong way 1-1.

The game picked up. A few good moves were evident and both keepers were busy.

We sagged again. We suddenly appeared lethargic and passing was atrocious. Conversely Portchester looked more a Division 1 side than we did and again we had to pack our area to stop any chance of losing the point.

The odd flurry where we pushed forward couldn't be converted. We were terrible in front of goal.

With two minutes left Portchester almost nicked it with a great move down the left and a point blank shot from the edge of the six yard box looked destined for the bottom corner. Fawcett pulled off a remarkable save to earn us a point.