FA CARLSBERG VASE 1ST ROUND PROPER
SATURDAY 2ND OCTOBER 2010
VERWOOD TOWN 1 BUDLEIGH SALTERTON 0

It was obvious from the opening tackles that neither side intended to take prisoners. Every ball was challenged and although both teams wanted to force the pace both were culprits of poor passing.

We managed to make the first real attempt on goal with Delaney Smith and Haskell all contributing to a final header down on the penalty spot. Jamison was the target but the ball got fast under his size 14's and a hasty boot cleared the danger.

9 minutes and we made another attempt to score with Delaney's free kick skidding across the area. Haskell was inches away from connecting.

Budleigh's response was a snap raid and a 20 yarder zipped over the bar.

Our response.....Elysee wriggling free and a cracking effort skimmed over the top.

21 minutes and a good Budleigh move finished with Delaney getting underneath the cross and giving away a corner. In it came. Dear cleared to Elysee and the tackle on Elysee gave us a throw in. Elysee collected the ball and raced free. A deep cross was met by Haskell's head. The keeper made a great save but gave away a corner. A defensive header cleared to the edge of the box. In swept Dyer but his shot was blocked and cleared. It was a good two way spell.

Dyer again broke free with 28 minutes gone and a good shot was well covered by the keeper.

Play then was contained in the central areas for a while before we got a grip on the game and for the last 15 minutes strung a series of attacks together with Jamison Haskell Dyer and Newbery all going close.

The half finished with another save by the visiting keeper sliding across the area to clutch the ball as the whistle went on a 0-0 score

Webb came on early for Jamison as we got ourselves geared up.

Budleigh had had a pep talk and it was evidenced by a step up in pace and more balls into the box. Lynch and Delaney won most of the headers and Fawcett had to have 1000% concentration to keep the sheet clean.

Smith and Elysee battled for mid field possession with Newbery dropping back to help.

Murray used his pace to advantage and a couple of overlaps and crosses meant a skirmish in the Budleigh box but without reward.

We worked hard to get on top. Dyer won a free kick and taking it himself spotted Delaney in the area. A pin point pass and Delaney rose above defence to plant the header just wide.

Murray Delaney Smith and then Elysee moved the ball up field. Elysee skimmed the ball across the area. It was half cleared, Newbery took the ball and a shot on the turn was blocked, out it came for Haskell to try a shot, again it was blocked then Newbery had another chance and this time although it beat the crowd in the area it was stopped on the line and cleared.

Budleigh pushed us back, Fawcett made a good save from a cross and then we were split wide open with a good ball through the defence. A lone runner faced Fawcett........Fawcett won and we breathed again.

Elysee then came into his own. Tremendous effort and willingness to win percolated through the side.

74 minutes Matt Newbery came off for Pete King to have a run.

78 minutes Elysee...a great run to the edge of the box and a shot hit the side netting.

90 minutes the whistle went on a 0-0 score line.

Both sides had given everything they had and here was another 30 minutes of effort required.

3 minutes of extra time we won a tackle in mid field.......Delaney chipped a ball into the box and up went Haskell to place a perfect header past the keeper......1-0.

We maintained good defence and finished with a terrific 1-0 result.