SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
WEDNESDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2009
VERWOOD TOWN 5 HYTHE AND DIBDEN 3

A good sign was a Goodall effort whistling wide of the post in the first minute. We kept the pressure going but got stung five minutes later when we pressed too far forward and left a gap at the back that H&D exploited and slammed an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net. 0-1.

We staggered along for while and suffered another breach in defence when a shot was fired in from the edge of the area that whistled through a bemused pack of players but fortunately for us hit the foot of the post and back out into play.

It was a shaky period but the character of the side is getting much better and we fought back against a good footballing side.

Half way through the half a H&D free kick dropped onto the penalty spot, Evans headed clear. Murray collected the clearance and slotted a ball through the middle of the park to Baguley. Baguley gave Goodall a shooting chance but the ball was deflected for a corner. The corner was part cleared but Lynch climbed high to nod the ball down to Baguley who cracked home the ball from 10 yards low into the bottom corner. 1-1.

We were playing a lot better now and 5 minutes later Murray won a fierce tackle and found Baguley in space just in our half. Baguley went wide of the centre half and outstripped the sweeper. Out came the keeper to narrow the angle but Baguley skimmed the ball into the bottom corner. 2-1.

H&D showed great resilience and hit back. Attack's from the flanks was the instruction from the line and with 6 minutes left on the clock won a corner.

We didn't clear fully and a powerful header whipped past Andy Loader to level the score 2-2.

The half petered out in mid field so half time recorded......2-2

Almost 4 minutes had gone of the first half and Goodall's shot flew inches over the bar. H&D cleared high and long. In swept the centre forward and a cracking volley was blocked by Kelly. The ball bounced to an unmarked forward and a volley was well saved by Loader.

Tackles became a bit brisker but nothing malicious. The referee however decided otherwise earning a comment from one of the spectators that he had had more bookings than the Beatles.

H&D looked a little bit tired with 15 minutes of the half gone and Baguley benefitted from the change outstripping the full back and a great cross found Homer coasting in to hammer a shot wide of the keeper for our third. The score line looked respectable and at this stage reflected a fair analysis of the match....3-2.

A neat interchange on H&D right flank split us at the back and a rising shot from the edge of the box was palmed out by Loader. Lynch powered his way through a packed area and winning a strong tackle release Elysee. Elysee's ball wide to Dyer was a classic counter attack. Baguley was the recipient of the cross and a pivot and shot clipped the outside of the post and out into dead ball.

61 minutes and Evans broke up a central raid. A chip ball to Baguley gave Baguley room to send the ball on the Goodall. Goodall made ground to the edge of the box and a left foot shot beat the keeper. 4-2

4 minutes later Faulkner won a tackle and a crossfield pass to Elysee switched play. Elysee to Dyer...on to Goodall, back to Dyer, a deep cross and there was Baguley to hammer home his hat trick. 5-2.

H&D still pushed us and Lynch / Evans had to be very much aware of the danger.

Baguley and Homer went close with 15 minutes left but again a very resilient H&D hit back. 6 minutes left and &D forced a corner. In came the inswinger and this time we didn't have an answer to a header planted into the roof of the net. 5-3.

It was a good finish as both side went for more goals but the referee whistled up for a 5-3 scorecard.