SYDENHAMS (WESSSEX) LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 4TH AUGUST 2012
ALTON TOWN 4 VERWOOD TOWN 4

Our Premiership baptism began at Alton Town. A good squad and ready to test ourselves against one of the premierships entrenched Clubs.

2 minutes. Edwards back to Gajic, a ball to Evans and a threaded ball found Satterley breaking wide. A narrow angled shot sped past the keeper into the bottom corner 1-0. A tremendous start.

6 minutes gone and we got a free kick on the half way line. Delaney stepped up and spotted the keeper off his line. An inch perfect drive cleared the keeper and the ball hit the roof of the net 2-0.

2 minutes later Alton was still settling when Hill made a great run down the left. The keeper came out to narrow the angle….Hill dummied, and slid the ball across the box to Satterley. A side foot and we were three up in 8 minutes.

Alton was stung into reaction and a terrific piece of football took them through the middle of the park. The ball was hit wide right. We were lost at the back and could do nothing with the ball drifting into the box for a simple tap in making it 3-1.

Incredibly, 3 minutes later we got caught again. Slack marking let in an attack on the right, a simple shift to the left and the ball whistled past Lynch to make it 3-2.

17 minutes and the scoring fest continued. Satterley broke into the box. A low shot was beaten out and in steamed Delaney to hammer a right foot rocket past the keeper. 4-2.

It wasn’t a game for supporters with weak hearts. Alton got better and good counter attacks were a feature as we were forced to defend in numbers. Kelly and Delaney took turns to clear our lines and Evans cut across on a couple of occasions to sweep round the back to help Lynch.

Elysee, marking a speedy flank made a crucial tackle to stop a dangerous cross. A ball down the line found Hill. A finely weighted pass found Satterley and the ball was in the net. Unfortunately the linesman decided Satterley was fractionally offside so the score board remained at 4-2.

Lynch made a great save with 25 minutes again and then repeated the effort saving at the foot of the post.

38 minutes and Edwards linked with Hill for Hill to slip the ball past the keeper but wide of the post.

Half time 4-2

Only a minutes and a half gone and our defence opened up as though Moses had wafted a wand. Lynch came off his line quickly but a fine finish altered the score board to read 4-3.

We lost our way a bit and suffered. Alton pushed forward and took over the middle of the park. Defensively we worked hard but couldn’t stem the flow.

Lynch came into his own. Good concentration and positive handling was gratefully received as he kept the ball out of the net. The back four worked hard.

56 minutes and Kelly shone as he calmly took down a lob into the box and strode free of attackers to clear down left. Dyer made ground and a through ball to Edwards allowed space for a shot. The back fence took the brunt of the effort.

57 minutes and Clark made way for Webb.

59 minutes and a simple through ball sliced open the middle of the park. A good run, a calm finish…4-4.

Now it was end to end. Edwards tried a shot that whistled over and a deep cross from Alton’s left skipped over the bar.

Webb and Gajic had picked up more of the ball in the middle of the park but Gajic suffered a yellow for a heavy tackle in winning a tackle. The ball floated in and Lynch came through a ruck of players to fist away.

Webb picked up the missile and a great pass found Satterley. A volley took off faster than a NASA launch but unfortunately went in the same direction.

The pace had dropped a bit but quality on the ball was good. Passing from both sides was fairly accurate and was good for spectators.

83 minutes and Lynch made our day when he spread himself on a one on one and body blocked a fierce shot destined for the bottom corner.

A minute left of normal time and we won a corner. The inswinger was met by Gajic but went inches over the bar.

20 seconds to go of injury time and Hill hit a low cross into the box. Satterley was 6 yards out and slammed a shot that should have meant three points. The keeper made the best save of his career so we finished 4-4.