SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
TUESDAY 25TH APRIL 2009
EAST COWES VICTORIA 2 VERWOOD TOWN 0

The challenge of who could score the least goals in the run up to the last game of the season was discussed in the forward crawl exercise as we headed for East Cowes. Apparently all our players were successful. Could one however be tempted to break the mould in today's game?

A very much changed side put on Verwood's Yellow and Blue away strip.

Chris Lynch's fear of water (evidenced after games) meant he stayed on terra firma. Russ Dyer stayed back to comfort him.

In stepped Josh Goncalves for his first team debut.

Vics were busy. They forced the pace and game from the whistle. Murray and Elysee were the first in action as the ball sped down the flanks. We looked shaky and suffered as early as the 6th minute when we performed a cardinal sin passing back to the feet of an opposite team member. 0-1.

We broke free of Vics shackles in the 16th minute for Faulkner to trot down the wing in his usual easy style and then pump the ball into the centre. Reeves' raced in but was a shade late and the opportunity was missed.

18 minutes a quick raid down the left, a low cross turned into the net.....0-2.

We were bad. Vics thought it was Christmas all over again. We had 21 players all moving towards our goal. Willis wasn't fazed.

Evans and Martin Newbury got in the way of a couple of shots so as we neared half time it looked like a 0-2 score line.

Faulkner almost spoiled it though as he stole in with ten seconds left on the clock to head over the bar.

We came off the blocks with a lot of energy and got ourselves into the Vics half. Sat Navs played their part as we moved in on goal.

Matt Newbury hit the side netting, and then Faulkner headed over. Josh Goncalves moved well on the flank and in one run was felled just outside the box. The free kick taken by Steve Moore drifted over the middle and Lanahan rose high. The keeper was the recipient on this occasion but at least we had a ball on target.

We maintained pressure. Passing had improved and Martin Newbury and Dean Evans were looking very solid as they picked off attacks.

Steve Reeves went wide linking with Goncalves. A quick interchange gave room and Josh did well to move past his marker but the shot was topped and had no sting helping the keeper to an easy save.

East Cowes was stung into retaliation. A break on the right saw the ball fired across the box and a volley had goal written all over it. Willis can't read so the save looked really special.

Murray joined the fun and steamed down the left. Rounding the last defender a left foot shot beat the keeper but not the post. The ball rebounded but Matt Newbury hit it wide.

Then came the change we had all been waiting for. Adie Arnold flaunted his droop slipping on his No. 12 shirt. The question was....who was to make way?

The answer was easy as Steve Moore still suffered ham string trouble so gave his area of responsibility to the OAP.

Vics had sympathy, steering the ball away from our sub so as to not exhaust him too soon.

Willis was busy for a couple of minutes as we settled once again but the dressing room challenge was upheld as no one put the ball in the net.