SYDENHAMS (WESSSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
TUESDAY 29TH MARCH 2011
HORNDEAN 1 VERWOOD TOWN 2

For a change our opposition had more pressure on them than we did. Lying second in the table and a game against Downton on Saturday Horndean needed to win this to stay in contention for table topping.

A late minute scramble to get players to the game was a headache for Adie Arnold. Matt Dear and Webby were the last to set off and at ten to seven we had 12 players at the ground. Changes to the side against Tadley were made with just Ben Richards getting splinters in his rectum.

We were late settling in. Horndean had tested Fawcett and hit the post within the first five minutes and then a minute later a swerving shot was brilliantly turned aside by a flying Fawcett.

Horndean's passing quality was good and quick flank attacks gave Dear and Murray plenty to cope with.

Delaney and Lynch patrolled the edge of the box keeping entry into our area to minimum.

We got ourselves together and some good progressive moves pegged Horndean into their half. Haskell's spin at the edge of the box gave space for a shot and a good save kept the score sheet clean.

Minutes later Webb slammed a rising shot for the top corner of the net bringing another good save from the keeper.

26 minutes and two successive corners for Horndean finished with a header headed over the bar from close in.

27 minutes Dear broke free and a pin point cross found Haskell. A terrific header with force beat the keeper to make it 1-0.

Scrappy defending at the edge of our box gave space and a vicious shot was brilliantly turned away by Fawcett.

45min 30 secs and we broke the defensive shield on the right. A low cross was hammered in by Dyer.

Half-Time 2-0.

First minute and Aspin was clear on goal an angled shot sped past the foot of the post.

We caught Horndean pushing up and Gajic collected a clearance made headway and a cracking right foot shot hit the bar and bounced clear.

Horndean's reply was clinical. Good football in the middle of the park created space and a run into the area was blocked by Delaney's sliding tackle. The rebound fell for a shot and this time it was Lynch who stepped in to block the effort reaching goal.

Haskell and Aspin linked to try and crack open the middle of defence but bodies blocked the way forward.

Webb and Dyer beavered away keeping track on busy midfielder's and with a stalwart back four we kept danger to a minimum.

Gajic was finding space on the left and with Murray's overlapping runs gave Horndean worries. One attack finished with the ball being flipped over the bar by the keeper and then the corner being headed in for goal by Delaney. The Hordean defence was solid on the line so we couldn't find a way through.

The game see sawed. Fawcett made a couple of great saves and then his counterpart performed the same feats at the other end.

Thrills and spills continued. Both teams produced grit and determination and each going close on occasions to score. It was a great game to watch.

Horndean's move down the left half way through the half split us open and a volley from the edge of the box was brilliantly saved by Fawcett. A quick throw, a run down the line by Murray resulted in a cross finding Aspin. A quick turn and shot looked for all the world like our third but the keeper made a cracking save at the foot of the post.

Dyer and Webb were again noticeable as they tracked good midfielder's. We knew if we gave time ad space Horndean's quality was such that we would have been trailing.

89 minutes and Fawcett had to produce a double save. The second was to push the ball away from danger but it fell to opposition's feet. A move into the box and Lynch's tackle was judged a foul. The penalty awarded was hammered home.

The game finished with 98 minutes played and a 2-1 Gritty performance.