SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION 1
MONDAY 30TH AUGUST 2010
WARMINSTER TOWN 1 VERWOOD TOWN 1

Bank Holiday Monday, thoughts of last Saturday's game against Horndean, and short of.....Lynch Murray Arnold Dyer Delaney Haskell Faulkner Kelly Williams and Stephens. Those of us left in the Club that had thick skins travelled to Warminster.

The game was only two minutes old when Elysee skipped down the line and a cracking cross whipped low into the box. Mills tried a flick and the ball was easily gathered by the keeper. It was a great chance for us to go ahead.

Warminster's football was good and the ball moved swiftly and accurately through their defence for forwards to have a chance of a shot on goal.

Smith holding the central area was in top form and did extremely well to fend off a series of attacks. Dear was sweeping well and Tong although having a groin strain made a couple of good athletic saves.

10 minutes on the clock and Homer picked up the ball from a defensive error and wasted no time in planting the ball wide of the keeper putting us ahead. 1-0.

Warminster looked dangerous on the attack so all credit to our back four as we kept them at bay. Freeman broke up a raid on their right and a line ball to Elysee split the oppositions defence to allow a cross and shot from Mills. The keeper made the save look easy. A long clearance bounced once and then emerged in our box. A massive melee followed and then a shout as the ball was seen to have crossed the line. 1-1.

Homer and Mills went close, Morrison's mazy run and a Kris Anderton shot followed in quick succession but the score line remained untouched.

In the closing minutes of the half, Warminster's keeper proved his worth with a couple of great saves.

Half Time 1-1

Martin Newbery had survived 45 minutes. Kris Anderton also looked as if he could stand up for a few more minutes so we kicked off but with one major headache..........

Luke Homer who had proved to be the thorn in the side of Warminster in the first half had suffered a bad knock on his ankle and the resulting swelling/bruising meant Marc Harrison coming on to take up the left flank position.

Elysee took on the mantle of attacker and defender. Martin Smith had some oxygen and we set about defending a tight score line.

Warminster could have gone ahead with a great move down the left but luckily for us the shot, 6 yards out, went high and wide.

Elysee took the ball wide right and won a corner. Taking it himself the ball arrowed to Smith and a bullet header was destined for the top corner but the keeper palmed it away.

Another corner swung in and this time it was an Elysee volley that caused concern in the box. A defenders knee deflected the ball wide.

Another corner.....Newbery slammed the ball low for goal and bodies prevented the ball from getting to the line.

It was end to end with flanks and central areas all being used.

With 10 minutes left we looked tired but dug in. Martin Newbery and Kris Anderton were still plugging away in the middle and our back four did tremendously well in keeping the Warminster lads out of the box.

Tong made a good catch from a high crossfield ball into the area and then headed another cross out of the box only two feet off the floor.

The game finished 1-1. It was felt that if we had attacked the same way we attacked the Burgers after the game we might have snatched it.

We couldn't fault our effort nor the refreshments from our hosts.