SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2009
TADLEY CALLEVA 1 VERWOOD TOWN 4

A crucial game. Five points separated us in the table with Tadley more consistent in their recent results than we were. We had achieved only one win out of the last four outings and had to pick up points from this game.

Baguley was working Matt Newbery was at some hip hop competition and of course Jason Lovell was still recuperating from his exertions three weeks ago. Adie and Martin went with one up front (Dan Goodall) and a mid field of five. Paul Arnold was to be the support leg to Goodall.

The pace in the opening minutes was a bit frantic but gradually settled down to a good open end to end game.

Lynch shadowed a through ball into dead ball and then Jamison had to climb high to clear a long ball into the box. Tadley's game was a mix of ball on the deck and periodically a knock back and then a long ball to forwards.

Goodall was our first attacker to try a shot and then Dyer hit a 20 yarder just over the bar.

15 minutes gone and we strung together a good move starting with Kelly then Homer, a crossfield ball found Dyer in space and a rasping 25 yard shot whistled past the keeper into the bottom corner. 1-0.

5 minutes later a collision just outside the area resulted in the ref deciding a fee kick was warranted. The ball dropped around the penalty spot and a good header beat Fawcett to level the scores.

Lynch and Jamison had a lot to cope with as Tadley pushed us back. Elysee and Murray did well to contain crosses and then with 45 minutes gone we won a free kick outside the Tadley area. The ball bobbed around until Jamison swivelled and scooped the ball over the keeper to put us back in front.

The half closed 2-1.

Faulkner with eyes like the proverbial holes in the snow following his wedding attendance on Friday had to be subbed. On came Jack Mills.

Jamison almost added to his tally with four minutes gone and a shot destined for the top corner was headed over by the full back.

53 minutes and Mills lit up the play as he latched on to ball that was pumped in and out of the area. A right foot blaster took a slight deflection on its way into the net. 3-1.

Tadley swept back. No heads dropped and we had to defend deep as Taleys approach play cut through the central areas. Fawcett made a great save and then Kelly timed his tackle to perfection to ease the ball from a boot ready to blast goalwards.

70 minutes the industrious Mills chased and harried finally winning the ball. A pass across the area found Goodall unmarked, and although Goodall tried hard to miss, the ball finished up in the net 4-1.

We thought Tadley would have been ready to concede. We were wrong. A brilliant piece of football scythed through us and the shot on target was heading for the top corner. Fawcett's anticipation was spot on as he fisted the danger away from the area.

Tadley pressed again. Jamison cleared from the six yard box and then Murray did the same as an angled shot was hammered in.

Evans made his appearance for Elysee with 15 minutes left and was soon in the thick of things. Breaking up an attack Evans cut inside and spotted Goodll free on the right. A good line ball, and Goodall went for the box. A rising shot brought a great save from the Tadley keeper.

Tadley's push for goals had us on the defensive but they left themselves open at the back.

It made for a good finish but there were no more goals only close misses. The score line maybe some might feel flattered but it was a well earned win 4-1.