SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION 1
TUESDAY 24TH AUGUST 2010
PEWSEY VALE 2 VERWOOD TOWN 3

After our diabolical performance against Fleet at the week end and a dearth of players we trod the back woods of the way to Pewsey with a degree of trepidation.

Missing...Lynch Murray Dyer Kelly Freeman and a couple of wounded individuals that needed strapping before kickoff made us think of asking the ref for a game of two 15 minute halves.

Pewsey's start was as we expected. 'Gung Ho and in yer face'.. good fast approach work and players who were more than willing to have a pop at goal as soon as they neared the area.

In the first minute Tong had to make a good catch from a cross and then gathered at feet as Pewsey broke through again.

We were still settling when in the 8th minute a 20 yarder flew past Tong into the top corner. A good effort and worthy of the score sheet. A minute later Pewsey slipped past a flimsy defensive pattern we had developed and a run into the box resulted in a 0-2 score line.

Valium was passed round the dugout and a struggle with Adie finished with the bottle being taken from him.

3 minutes later we had reformed into a ten across the back strategy and it worked. No one got in the way of Newbery as he raced into the Pewsey box and slipped the ball past the keeper. 1-2.

16 minutes, Homer robbed an attacker of the ball, raced down the line and a cross found Newbery still in the area (he had forgotten to return to the centre spot after the goal) for Newbery to swivel and slam the ball into the roof of the net. 2-2.

We got back into the game and it made good watching for the spectators. Pewsey edged possession for the balance of the half but the score when the whistle went...............

Half-Time 2-2

Paul Stephens had injured his ribs in the first half and although initially thinking he would be OK found he had problems breathing so lasted only ten minutes before coming off. Bernie Scott removed the tourniquet from around PS' throat as the rasping was distracting attention to the game.

We were enjoying a bit more possession than in the first half but the breaks from a quick Pewsey side kept our back four on their toes. Delaney and Smith worked like Trojans and Adam Faulkner having dropped back into left back spot was a revelation.

Then came ten minutes of Pewsey attacks. Tong made a great save at feet and then flipped the ball over the bar from a shot just inside the box. Delaney and Smith continued their contribution while Matt Dear worked his flank well keeping Elysee well fed.

Haskell had been shadowed throughout the game and was finally shedding attention. A good ball to Homer and running into space Haskell collected the return and slammed the ball past the keeper but also just past the post.

Elysee had a good run and a cross found Faulkner free. Faulkner then tried to walk the ball into the net instead of having a shot subsequently losing the ball to a good tackle.

Haskell's cross shot after 59 minutes was well saved by the keeper. Homer then tried a similar shot but this time the side netting stopped the ball travelling into Pewsey Village.

Arnold sent Homer away on the left, taking the return ball Homer slipped it to Faulkner. Faulkner spotted Homer racing into the box and an inch perfect pass fell at feet. Homer's shot was fierce but the keeper was equal to the task of stopping it entering goal.

Tong then palmed out a shot intended for the bottom corner and helped by Matt Dear the ball found its way to Newbery. Back to Dear a cross to Elysee and Elysee planted the ball into the penalty area. Newbery raced in to flick the ball past the keeper......3-2.

Final score 3-2