SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2011
VERWOOD TOWN 3 TEAM SOLENT 1

Verwood welcomed Wessex league newcomers Team Solent to Potterne Park for the first time. The game took on an unusual look straight away as Verwood were attacking the 'South End' in the first half for the first time in many a while. It may have been this that caused us to have a slightly uneasy start as the visitors were the first to show their hand. They forced the first corner of the game on 7 minutes but the striker's header was just over. A second corner followed shortly after which led to a bit of a scramble in the Verwood goalmouth but the defence cleared their lines well.

The first sign of any danger to the visitor's goal came on 11 minutes when a long throw by Evans was missed by the keeper but a defender headed to safety. On 14 minutes Freeman intercepted a pass and set Gajic away, his early whipped in low cross saw Haskell inches away from connecting. 20 minutes gone and it was now real end to end stuff but most of the openings were coming the way of the visitors. The breakthrough came on 29 minutes when Gajic was fouled 25 yards from goal. Homer's free kick to the far post eluded everybody except Kelly who, showing great finishing skills to compliment his excellent defensive work, volleyed home giving the keeper no chance 1-0

Solent's response was a dangerous free kick floated into the home penalty area but Freeman cleared the immediate danger, the cross that followed however landed on top of the crossbar and all breathed a sigh of relief. On 36 minutes Verwood's best move of the half so far saw Homer's cross headed wide by Gajic. 3 minutes later a good run by the opponents winger saw him ride a couple of challenges and fire home from 20 yards with a cool finish. Everybody would agree that the visitors had deserved their equaliser 1-1. Sure enough shortly after they nearly took the lead as a cross from the right flashed across the home goal but nobody could get the vital touch. On the stroke of half time Haskell wriggled free from his marker and shot just over HALF TIME 1-1

49 minutes and Homer created the first chance of the second half when he teed up Webb who fired his first time shot over the bar. Verwood were enjoying their best spell of the game and Webb and Dyer were starting to run the game from the middle of the park. On 51 minutes Webb set up Gajic but his effort was screwed wide of the upright. A worrying time followed as Haskell limped off the pitch looking far from healthy but thankfully re-appeared a minute later looking none the worse for his injury. On the hour mark more prompting from Webb led to Haskell's header to Gajic in a great position but a fantastic interception from the defender diverted the ball for a corner. Freeman was replaced on 63 minutes by Barnett, just after which Solent forced their first corner of the second half which came to nothing. With 20 minutes to go Verwood were pushing for a winner when Dyer rode a fierce challenge and pushed the ball wide to Barnett whose low cross just needed a touch but the defence were standing firm. Almost immediately a header on found Gajic who buried his shot in the back of the net, sadly the flag was waving for offside. Just 13 minutes remained when a long ball from Delaney saw the ball scrambled away for a corner, Haskell met it with a far post volley but this was wide of the target. We were now enjoying a large share of the possession but disaster nearly struck on 80 minutes when Dear under hit a back pass and the forward was favourite to score but Lynch came to the rescue with a brave save at his feet. Dear made amends minutes later when his 20 yard strike sailed into the bottom corner of the net albeit assisted by a slight deflection which had the keeper wrong footed 2-1

With 7 minutes remaining Solent forced two corners in succession, the second was headed just over and we kept our lead. With injury time now being played Dyer's cross found Haskell who headed into the path of Webb. His close range effort was saved at point blank range by the keeper who got up to watch Barnett smash the loose ball home and the points were safely in the bag . Full Time 3-1

Report submitted by Steve Jefferis