FA CARLSBERG VASE - 3RD ROUND PROPER
WEDNESDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2010
VERWOOD TOWN 2 TORPOINT ATHLETIC 5

The shaking of hands was delayed slightly because Charlie had walked into a goalpost. Dan Eldridge paramedic and physio raced to the scene. It was a simple cure. Dan pulled down the snood explaining to Charlie it was for round the neck and not over the face.

30 seconds only had elapsed when a red and a yellow shirt both watched the ball roll across the face of our goal with Dan Fawcett stranded. It was a warning of the quick attacking style of Torpoint.

4 minutes and we went one down. Torpoint worked the ball to the edge of the area and a low shot crept over the line to start the pencil lead working on the score sheet.

We tried to make impact but were a bit shell shocked and finished up defending in numbers. We tried to hit on the break and with 10 minutes on the clock Murray broke free on the left and a deep cross for Haskell was intercepted by a good keeper making an excellent catch.

14 minutes and Torpoint had two corners in succession. A mad scramble followed the second corner but Lynch cured the headache with a great header out of the box. It started a mini fight back.

Smith slapped a 20 yard rocket of a shot that hit the angle of the bar and post. Saxby followed in to turn the ball into the goalmouth but a size nine hoofed it clear of danger.

Elysee picked up the clearance and linking with Dyer broke free on the right. A cross found Haskell ad the shot on the turn was gathered confidently by the keeper.

23 minutes and we were punished by allowing a player to have complete freedom of the park and let him waltz through unchecked to slot the ball past Fawcett making 0-2.

33 minutes we got a reward for our efforts when Smith headed into the box and Elysee flicked on to Saxby.

Saxby swivelled and shot, the keeper scrambled the ball away from goal but in swept Haskell to hammer the ball into the corner of the net. 1-2. We pushed forward and Dyer was unlucky with a good low shot deflected for a corner. Delaney's downward header went inches wide of the post.

Wrixton and Dear worked the right flank and Wrixton's final ball to Saxby was intercepted. The ball went wide and Lynch raced across to cut out the danger. The game was now wide open but it was Torpoint who had the cutting edge and made it 1-3 with a well taken goal helped by Verwood's slack defending.

40 minutes we got worse and Torpoint predatory instincts pushed the score line to 1-4

A minute to go and Haskell's volley hit legs on the line. Saxby followed in and hit the rebound for the corner of the net but the keeper flicked the ball away from inside the post. Dyer raced in and shot but the ball was stopped on the line and cleared. The whistle then went on a half time score line of 1-4.

We produced some reasonable football at the beginning of the second half but didn't have that all important flair in front of goal.

Dyer hit a shot wide, Elysee fired over the bar and Saxby went close a couple of times but without testing the keeper.

Marking was slack. It gave Torpoint added time on the ball and we were punished again with 65 minutes on the clock. A cross ball landed in our box. A comedy of errors to clear followed and a grateful Torpoint forward tapped the ball past Fawcett. 1-5.

75 minutes and Elysee followed up a hopeful Lynch through ball and nodded the ball past the keeper. 2-5. Could we get back in the game.....no.

For some inexplicable reason we couldn't raise our game sufficiently to reduce the score line any further. Torpoint defended well but ran off winners 2-5.

We wish them every success in the next round.