SYDENHAMS (WESSSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 9TH APRIL 2011
SHAFTESBURY 3 VERWOOD TOWN 6

If you like slapstick and was at this game you would have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Shaftesbury managed to field a team with one sub. We matched them. Did the teams have their usual players...no... on both counts. Our shortage was due partly to an accident on the Bournemouth Spur Road delaying some of the team so much they didn't make the game. Shaftesbury's problem was that they were just short on numbers.

We had Leon Scott as our 'real' sub filling the rest of our bench with Mark Beverley!

3 minutes only had passed when we allowed an attack on the left to go unchecked. A rising shot went over the bar.

4 minutes later we were still wandering around the pitch in a dazed condition when a long ball soared over our defence landing on the edge of the box. Out came Lynch to kick clear. Unfortunately the ball hit a Shaftesbury forward who gratefully tapped it into the net. 0-1.

Another 4 minutes elapsed and the ball whistled past Lynch but this time the player was judged offside.

We lost all idea of how to play and the locals yelled in derision as we fumbled our way though the half.

Dyer and Saxby made inroads for an attempt on the home goal but a stand in keeper remained untested as the ball kept going wide of the posts.

A flurry of mistakes resulted in goals.

22 minutes The ball dropped into an open area 0-2.
31 minutes Aspin raced clear and scored making it 1-2.
33 minutes A long ball, no one marking 1-3.
41 minutes A Delaney free kick from the half way line dropped into the 6 yard box. The keeper dropped it over his head....2-3.
44 minutes Morrison chipped the ball over a defender for Webb to turn and put the ball into the bottom corner. 3-3.

Half Time 3-3

Shaftesbury must have felt very confident of winning this game as they fielded ten players for the start of the second half. The keeper had been substituted as well.

They attacked from the whistle. 2 minutes had gone when they broke through for a shot to go just over the bar. Lynch said there hadn't been any danger as he had the shot covered anyway.

3 minutes and Gajic, sent the ball wide right. Picking up the return Gajic (one hell of a snooker player) hammered the ball into defenders picking off a couple of spare legs and a last cannon went past a dazed keeper. 4-3.

We started to pick up our game. Passes were finding our own team but despite getting into attacking mode we couldn't convert to goals.

15 minutes and a Shaftesbury player sunk to the ground injured. He had to come off.....9 men. They were still confident.

2 minutes later they had a change of heart and a reluctant hero dropped the bucket on the line and tied up his laces. Obviously he was a centre forward in the making as he made his way to stand in front of Delaney.

70 minutes and we won a free kick. Delaney took it dropping it into the same vicinity as his earlier one. The keeper this time made a clean catch. A long ball up field found a runner and luckily Dear spotted the danger and cut out the danger.

Dyer put Saxby through. The ball few into the net but the flag said no goal because of offside.

72 minutes Gajic planted a cross on the penalty spot and Saxby tucked it past the keeper. 5-3. Yes we were looking good now against a team like the walking wounded.

2 minutes to go and Aspin closed the scoring with a good goal from the edge of the box 6-3.

Shaftesbury should be commended. They faced adverse conditions on the day but played with a team spirit that had to be admired.

We had to satisfy ourselves that we saved face with a reasonable second half.

Full Time 6-3