PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
SATURDAY 1ST AUGUST 2009
HAMWORTHY UNITED 1 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Our third friendly game of this season was pitched against Hamworthy United. Last year we took a tanning. All too often we allowed United room and space and were punished heavily. Could we change a bit this year?

The squad was strong. Only a couple of faces were missing due to holidays.

As early as the second minute, Homer cut inside the full back, nutmegged a second defender and found Newbury free on the right. A slide rule pass was hammered goalwards but although the keeper was beaten the ball whistled wide, hitting the back stanchion.

Two minutes later United broke into our box and an Elysee/Evans combination tackle was judged too heavy. Fawcett picked the right way to dive and the penalty was saved.

It was a quick game with both sides putting extra vitality into their efforts.

Dyer was proving a handful to the home teams mid field and a series of excellent moves were sparked from this rejuvenated playmaker.

With five minutes to go we suffered a barrage of attacks but in the 43rd minutes broke free and Homer finished off a move with a cross shot that flew past the keeper into the net. We closed the half at 1-0.

Sean Jones came on for Chas Elysee, James Murray allowed Adam Faulkner to drop back into left back spot and Sam Lanahan slipped casually into midfield.

We soaked up a lot of pressure at the start of the half with Lynch and Evans superb in the central defensive roles. They were aided and abetted by a very much in form Fawcett.

Hamworthy cracked us though with 61 minutes on the clock and from their first real threat of the half forced a corner slammed the ball into the net. 1-1.

Pressure continued. Lynch cleared the line with a good header and Evans scissor kicked a threat out of the 6 yard box.

75 minutes and we broke up an attack. Jones fed Truan and a great turn inside his marker gave freedom for a slide rule pass to find Newbury. Newbury raced away from the centre half. Out came the keeper. And a golden boot slid the ball into the net. 2-1.

A couple of blistering tackles brought further information about the rules of the game to the lineo but gentle calls to the referee went unheeded.

Off came Newbury following a scything tackle and on went Elysee. Elysee was quickly into the game and a pass down the flank to Truan gave an opportunity for a deep cross. Homer swept in and a terrific shot was well saved.

Faulkner cut out a flank raid and Arnold carried on the ball to create a swathe through the centre of the park. Dyer who'd had a cracking game went wide of the area but his shot hit the side netting.

United pushed us back but we defended deep and firm.

Fawcett saved a long range effort in the closing minutes but .this time we came away from Hamworthy with a deserved 2-1 win