SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
WEDNESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2009
VERWOOD TOWN 1 AFC PORTCHESTER 5

We had a couple of players missing but still a strong squad. Portchester sitting just beneath us in the table had recently been on a roll which was evident as they attacked from the start. We battled back and for the first five minutes saw an even game in terms of possession.

Portchester had the first crack at goal but Fawcett went down early to make a good save.

10 minutes and Truan broke through. A ball to Lima and on to Baguley. Baguley's effort was blocked and cleared.

2 minutes later Portchester forced their way through a fairly tame defence and a left foot shot beat Fawcett. 0-1.

We made way down the right. Dyer worked an opening with Truan. Truan's return ball was hit low into the box and Baguley stretched but couldn't convert. The ball was sent straight back into our defence and the chink created left room for a cross shot that put Portchester two in front.

20 minutes a Dyer corner was headed wide by Baguley. Anderton hit a blaster but yet again the ball didn't threaten the keeper.

Our luck on the day was epitomised when Homer sent a back pass to Fawcett. We weren't aware that Dan had been taking lessons from England keeper Paul Robinson. The ball gently bobbled over Dan's boot and nestled snugly in the back of the net. 0-3.

We staggered on. Anderton, Elysee,Dyer and then Lima moved the ball forward and then watched as Portchester cleared the danger away to their forwards.

We funnelled back. Lynch and Jamison fought hard and Elysee and Murray joined in with desperate clearances to stop another goal from going in.

Half time 0-3.

Ben Truan's ankle denied him another 45 minutes so on came Dean Evans. Mark Jamison moved to centre forward.

We won a corner, one of the only things we had won in the game. Lynch headed over the bar.

49 minutes saw Elysee link with Dyer to go past four defenders. Dyer's left foot shot cleared the bar. The dead ball kick sailed over mid field. A race for the ball followed with the Portchester forward winning the ball and chipping Dan Fawcett. 0-4.

56 minutes we broke on the left and for the first time in the game had a shot on target that slammed into the inside of the post and skimmed back into the net 1-4. Had Jamison given us that spark needed for us to produce more goals?

In short. No.

Evans free kick was headed over by Jamison and then a shot from Homer went high and wide.

That was about it. We were shoved further and further back. Anderton made way for Jones but we could have done with no one coming off! Portchester were full of running and moved the ball swiftly and accurately. We gave the ball away too frequently so found ourselves deeper and deeper in trouble.

Lynch and Evans sweat buckets as they constantly had to block shots and deny space. Jones was in the thick of it but Portchester were relentless in the pursuit of another goal.

Fawcett made a couple of good saves and then we hit a lucky spot as openings gave opportunity for more Portchester goals but their shots at this stage were a bit wild.

Corners were capably dealt with but one particularly had us in trouble had it not been for Lynch heading off the line.

Two minutes of retaliation had a Willis header stopped by the keeper and Jamison tried a hopeful shot that was on target but didn't have the pace to trouble the keeper.

86 minutes we allowed a runner to go right through our defence to score..

Result 1-5.