SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
WEDNESDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2009
VERWOOD TOWN 1 TADLEY CALLEVA 0

Could the team redeem itself after the Wells debacle? Luke Homer and Adam Faulkner were missing having plunged into a major drinking binge at some nefarious 'slag night'. It may have been a stag night but whatever it was they were missing.

Ben Truan, Sean Jones, Matt and Martin Newbery picked up the splinters as the teams kicked off.

Incredibly we attacked with some accurate passing. This was a long way from the Wells performance even though it was so early. 3 minutes and a Baguley Lovell link produced a back pass to Arnold who blazed a shot over the bar from 20 yards. Another five minutes and Baguley followed suit with a half volley.

2 minutes later Evans sped down the right and a deep cross skimmed the bar and went out of play.

Tadley rallied and broke on the right. The cross was plucked out of the air by Fawcett. A throw put Murray free on the left. A line ball to Dyer, Dyer cut inside the full back and tried a shot but yet again it went over the bar.

15 minutes and Murray whipped a high ball into the Tadley box. Lovell placed a stooping header the wrong side of the post.

18 minutes and a cracking piece of football from Tadley opened up our left hand side. A low cross found the centre forward, a swivel and half volley tested Fawcett to the limit but the score sheet remained clean.

Some good mid field battles were emerging but the game was fair and the referee kept things moving.

33 minutes and sloppy play in our midfield let in Tadley for a shot. Again Fawcett was equal to the effort.

The game ebb and flowed to the half time whistle. Dyer went close and Tadley hit the bar.

Half time 0-0

The second half kicked off with Tadley pushing us back. A through ball crept through the defence and a runner hit a shot that had Fawcett beaten but not the bar. The ball was cleared wide. Elysee slipped the ball inside to Arnold, on to Lovell who was challenged. Lovell won the tussle and whipped the ball wide to Dyer. A cross found Lovell following up in the box and a downward header beat the keeper to nestle in the back of the net. 1-0.

Tadley, stung into retaliation, pushed us back. Crosses flew in but Jamison and Lynch won the lot. One ball was lobbed high into the area and a volley hit the bar. We needed the slice of luck.

Arnold and Anderton gradually got on top of mid field so for a while we enjoyed plenty of possession. Baguley hit the keeper instead of the back of the net and Lovell had a shot that the full back cleared off the line.

Back came Tadley. A shot from 20 yards went wide and hen another shot flew over the bar. It was good end to end stuff.

60 minutes and Lovell slipped his marker , went down the right and a cross went right through the middle of the area and out the other side.

Tackles were becoming a bit fiercer as both teams fought hard for a goal. Evans had run himself into the ground for the cause and 74 minutes gone was relieved of further knackering making way for Matt Newbery.

We then had ten minutes of play that pumped adrenalin. Baguley led the way with a lob hoping to clear the keeper but the keeper did well back pedalling and clawing the ball away. Dyer collected on the edge of the box and a low shot was scrambled free by the keeper. Baguley hit the ball back but it was deflected for a corner. Dyer's cross was too much and went out of play.

Anderton then surged through a packed defence and was toppled on the edge of the area as he shaped for a shot. The free kick was headed clear. Arnold picked up the loose ball and hammered it back. It was blocked and cleared upfield.

We then had the remaining minutes of the game being played in both boxes as yet again both sides went for a goal..........BUT..........

Today it was our turn to keep a clean sheet......1-0.