SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION 1
SATURDAY 7TH AUGUST 2010
DOWNTON 0 VERWOOD TOWN 0

This was our first league game of the season and against one of the favourites to challenge for promotion.

As we expected Downton opened with a fizz. In quick for the tackle, and accuracy with their passing.

It suited us. It made us play and we matched Downton's enthusiasm and appetite.

Defences were tight leaving little room for attackers to ply their trade. We had a good back four with Elysee and Murray on the flanks and Delaney/Lynch blocking the middle.

Tong's chat from the back was a help as we smothered attacks.

Dyer and Haskell made inroads into the area with 15 minutes on the clock but the defensive wall Downton quickly threw up did the job and blocked our penetration.

Quick feet on the edge of our box gave an opportunity for a shot but Tong read the shot well and made a comfortable catch.

A bit of frustration crept in and some niggly fouls followed. Those with pouted lips were chastised by the ref and the game then went on uninterrupted.

Both defences were holding their ground well but we now experienced a few chances for a shot on goal from both sets of forwards. Tong made a cracking diving save from the edge of our box and Arnold's shot from just outside the area narrowly went wide.

Haskell found space from a Dyer pass and a shot on the turn was well held.

Williams cross with a few minutes of the half left was fired low and hard by Homer but yet again we saw the ball sail narrowly wide of the post.

Half Time 0-0

Downton continued where they left off giving us a problem in the first few minutes. We hadn't settled and had to thank Adam Tong for being alert to make a couple of good saves from a Downton's attacking deluge.

We dug in and gradually got on top. Elysee and Murray were using space previously denied them to push forward and crosses caused Downton some concern in their box. A good keeper with safe hands helped their cause leaving a frustrated Haskell and Arnold as they watched excellent efforts saved.

Delaney and Lynch went up for a couple of corners and Lynch caught one header extremely well but placed it in his usual spot, on top of the net.

57 minutes saw Matt Newbery on for Williams who asked to come off as it had started raining and was spoiling his perm.

Homer was enjoying more possession and a great run on the left gave space for a shot at goal. A rising ball was spilled and Newbery just missed connecting.

Kelly, Haskell and Homer linked up to cause hassle on the left and Homer's shot was beaten out for a corner. The corner swung in but Downton's defenders climbed higher than us to clear.

Delaney headed clear a high ball into our box and then had to time a tackle to the nth degree as a shot was lined up only 6 yards out.

Not to be outdone, Arnold pushed up and steering the ball through a gap in defence gave Dyer a chance to score but Dyer's shot was blocked and cleared.

The game continued at a brisk pace but a few gaps started to appear and both boxes had near misses towards the end.

The whistle finally blew on a 0-0 scoreline.