SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2008
WHITCHURCH UTD 5 VERWOOD TOWN 1

It was said that Adam Faulkner hadn't seen much action on his last tour of duty in Afghanistan. We discovered the reason. While the main numbers of the squad were in the Whitchurch dressing room Adam, acting as navigator in Dan Goodall's mean machine was in Hook!!!!!

Dan Eldridge talked him in. It cost Adie Arnold £45 for the mobile call.

We had to pull another three points from this match to give us a feeling of respectability. The pre match chat was all adrenalin. Out we trudged.

What a start. 40 seconds and Whitchurch should have hit the back of the net with a shot from 10 yards that went wide. 1min 10seconds and Fawcett won a one on one. 2 minutes and the centre forward missed an open goal from 3 feet!! We couldn't cope with the pace of two quick forwards and were dragged all over the place. Adie Arnold needed resuscitation. Sadly Dan Eldridge refused to offer mouth to mouth so used a bike pump.

We were dreadful. Second to every ball, terrible passing quality and a defence that looked like Tussauds.

22 min ball wide left…cross. .tap in 0-1.
23 min Fawcett save.
25 min Lynch cleared off the line.
26 min Murray cleared off the line.
30 min Fawcett saved at feet.
31 min cross shot 0-2.
We rallied and for a brief three minutes had the ball in Whitchurch's half.

Half Time 0-2.

We came out for the second half all fire and brimstone. We had two shots but with 1minute 30 seconds gone went three down as a long ball found an unmarked forward.

Fawcett saved at feet a minute later as we were rolled over. A minute later Fawcett sprawled to deflect a shot with his legs. The centre forward strolled in and planted the ball into the net. 0-4.

Then came an unusual spell as gathered ourselves together and played some reasonable football. Faulkner came nearest to scoring with a dipping left foot drive from just outside the box. The keeper took the catch exceptionally well.

Elysee got into the action and racing down the right crossed for Reeves who placed a diving header just over the bar.

With 66 minutes gone a slick bit of play released Chivers just on the edge of the box and a right foot shot whipped up the net 1-4.

67 minutes saw Arnold and Evans come off the bench for Faulkner and Moore.

Evans joined in the fun with a back pass that Dan Fawcett struggled to sort out and a very grateful Whitchurch forward slotted home their fifth of the game.

Arnold tried a long distance shot that at least was on target and then Dyer slid the ball into the box for Goodall to have a shot blocked.

Lynch cleared an attack and then Evans raced across to make a last ditch tackle preventing another Whitchurch excursion into our area. We were ragged but holding out against a sixth.

Could we reduce the arrears? BetFred 365 said 1m to 1.

We didn't but equally, Whitchurch couldn't score again.

We took a terrible score line back to Verwood of 1-5.