SYDENHAMS (WESSSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2011
VERWOOD TOWN 0 DOWNTON 4

After a hard game on a heavy pitch Thursday night we faced league leaders Downton, Only Matt Delaney was missing from the team so we had every confidence in the squad to do well.

Only 30 seconds had passed though when we gave away a free kick and King was the saviour as the ball was headed on and looked like dropping into the top corner. King read it well and cleared.

Dowton were still pressing in the 4th minute and a cross from the right was turned goalwards. Tong made a good save diving low to his right and palmed the ball round the post. The corner was headed out of the area by Lynch.

Our passing quality was missing and it gave Downton more possession than they warranted. They used the ball well and another break on the left was fired low into the box. Smith this time had funnelled back and made a critical interception.

We got better. Dear won a tackle and released Saxby. A run down the right and a deep cross was too much for Haskell to cover and the ball was partly cleared. Edwards closed the ball down and Haskell chased in to release Saxby. Saxby drove the ball low across the box for Aspin to volley into the goal mouth. The keeper commanded the defence and made a good save.

King stopped an attack on the right and switched the ball to Saxby. The pass found Aspin and a 20 yard shot was headed off the line for a corner. The corner wasn't defended too well and from the scramble the ball was punted high and out for another corner. This time Downton cleared with a major welly.

16 minutes a long ball punted out of Downton's box was covered by Dear but the slippy pitch made Dear do the splits and the ball ran free for a cross to be made into the box. Lynch almost made the tackle but the ball was hit firmly into the bottom corner. 0-1.

The rest of the half was an even possession and if we had had the finishing power we cold have gone in at half time in front, Instead it was Downton holding the reigns.

Half Time 0-1.

First minute again saw Downton in our box. A switch ball and a cross.... King headed clear.

We hit back and Haskell was held back from racing clear. The free kick was well held by the keeper.

11 minutes and Tong took a good catch. A throw found Haskell.... on to Saxby and a left foot shot whistled inches wide of the angle.

Downton were gaining more possession and playing good football. Our contribution to their game was undoubtedly tired legs, consequently leaving gaps for the visitors to exploit.

Tong had to make a double save with 20 minutes of the half gone but couldn't replicate it two minutes later when he made a flying save palming the ball wide but then saw the ball fly past him for Downton's second.

Our cover had dropped. Downton pounced on everything available and we were second best to most opportunities.

Haskell toiled away up front and Aspin made some good runs but we had no penetration and Downton's back cover had a relatively easy passage.

72 minutes we cracked and a cross was blocked but the rebound fired low past Tong. 0-3.

It wanted fresh legs. On came Webb. Webb hadn't managed to touch the ball when he saw Downton' fourth fly in. 0-4.

On came Lanahan for Smith and Adams for Saxby. It didn't influence the game at all and an experienced Downton controlled the middle of the park and almost went five up but for King's intervention on a shot from just inside the area.

We rallied briefly before the end but rigor mortis had set in and the whistle went on 0-4 score line.

Full Time 0-4.