DORSET COUNTY FA - DORSET SENIOR CUP
SATURDAY 9TH OCTOBER 2010
PARLEY SPORTS 1 VERWOOD TOWN 2

We heard just before the game that we had been judged favourites. Whoever started the rumour needed re wrapping in his/her straight jacket.

Lynch and Murray hadn't drawn a breath before they had to cut out and block two attacks that had made it into the box. We looked lethargic and seemed to be willing Parley to teach us a footballing lesson.

Fawcett made a cracking save with five minutes gone, His long clearance was nodded on by Lovell giving Chas Elysee a glorious chance to put us in front. Although his shot beat the keeper, direction had been forgotten and the ball screwed wide of the post.

We managed to put an attack together with Smith and Dyer cutting through the middle. A wide ball to Webb and a classic cross was met full on by Lovell's head but the ball finished on the roof of the net instead of in it.

A pacy Parley centre forward gave us a problem at the back and a couple of good chances could have seen us behind had it not been for Fawcett and Morrison.

Our performance was well below par. Parley had room to move and used it to their advantage.

Smith and Dyer worked hard but the flair needed was absent.

Parley won three corners in succession and although we defended in numbers it looked inevitable that they would go ahead. We survived.

We lost the middle and suffered when with ten minutes left of the half Parley's forwards broke through and left a one on one. Luckily Fawcett was in superb form and diving to his left made a great save.

We continued to be a shadow of the team that has recently done so well but went in at half time................0-0.

There was a spark at the start of the second 45 minutes that seemed to indicate a recovery. It was short lived. Passes were given away and the performance could only be described as mediocre.

Parley should have gone ahead with a great shot that Fawcett yet again was called upon to flick over the bar. The corner swung in and Lynch powered a header up field. Lovell shielded the ball and touched back to Haskell a half volley dipped towards goal but the keeper made the save look easy.

58 minutes and the ball moved swiftly down the Parley right. Morrison slipped and the ball was herded down the line by Parleys right flank. A low hard cross and the ball was tapped in from a couple of feet as we stood mesmerised in the area. 0-1.

The problem was that no one seemed to care.

Lovell and Haskell toiled away up front but the Parley ranks had closed up and we were blocked at the edge of the area.

Murray had to come off with a hamstring problem and on went Newbery.

76 minutes the ball was fired up field by Lynch and Smith flicked on to Lovell. Presence in the box was enough. The ref blew for a penalty. Maybe harsh but Newbery stepped up thankfully to put the ball past the keeper 1-1.

Four minutes later Webb worked hard to recover the ball and a feed to Smith gave space for a chip ball to Lovell. A flick on to Newbery and Newbery raced into the area to hit a low shot past the keeper into the bottom corner. 2-1.

We were still not playing well but were holding tight at the back preventing a hard running Parley team space to draw level.

We crept into injury time and a great piece of football from Parley put them into the box. A volley looked like extra time but Fawcett produced a terrific save. Dyer's contribution throughout this game was exceptional.