SYDENHAMS (WESSSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2011
VERWOOD TOWN 2 AMESBURY TOWN 1

Amesbury’s recent run of form took them above us in the table and we obviously needed everyone to be ready for a tussle.

It wasn’t like us, but we hit first and within 30 seconds Dyer raced to the edge of the box and a left foot shot whipped through Amesbury’s defenders forcing a good diving save from the keeper.

A Jimmy Bond reaction from Amesbury saw them shaken but not stirred and five minutes later a brilliant piece of football scythed through our mid field bringing Tong into action.

Amesbury were quick and incisive. Our midfield struggled a bit but gradually wore themselves into the game. Sid Edwards dug in and sparked a couple of attacks via Saxby. Amesbury’s keeper was exceptional and the score sheet remained blank.

King was a revelation in the sweeper spot and with a dominant Lynch at centre half, the middle road to goal was blocked off.

Dyer, Elysee and Saxby combined well to progress to the edge of Amesbury’s box and then Haskell took over to blast a 20 yarder that the keeper was forced to spill at the first attempt. He recovered well to deny Haskell another notch.

Halfway through the half it was end to end and we went closest with a Webb cross and a glancing header from Haskell flying just wide of the post.

29 minutes Edwards tried his luck but the keeper yet again made a good catch.

10 minutes to go and we cracked the stalwart defence. Edwards’ free kick flew into the box and a powerful Haskell header whipped into the roof of the net.

2 minutes to go and a cross from the right whipped past Tong for a half time result of 1-1.

Amesbury took us to task in the opening minutes of the second half and a cross from the left almost sneaked in.

Plenty of energy and good passing movement made for a good game.

King and Lynch had a few testing moments but more than held their own.

Matt Dear found a few moments to join attack and the overlap gave us openings. Aspin went close with a shot and then Saxby’s dipping effort landed on the roof of the net.

Webb and Saxby moved the ball quickly through the centre of midfield and Elysee, on the overlap saw his shot turned round the post.

The corner swung in and Haskell powered a header for the roof of the net but yet again the keeper flipped the ball out for a corner. This time the cross was cleared by a size ten.

King joined the group of jostling players in the box for a corner and won the header. The ball clipped the angle but flew wide.

Haskell and Dear took a passing movement to the bye line and the resultant shot from a cross ball by Aspin hit the keepers legs and bounced clear.

Then it was Tong’s turn to make a good save as Amesbury pressed us back.

Dear and Elysee were called upon to close down quick forwards and it looked as if both teams would share the points as they tried but failed to find the next goal.

42 minutes we pushed on and Haskell caused a rumple, shielding the ball in the box and passing back for Saxby to try a shot........

The ball bounced off the centre half and Wrixton followed in to score with an angled shot making it 2-1.

Result 2-1