SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WEDNESDAY 8TH AUGUST 2012
VERWOOD TOWN 1 HORNDEAN 2

We started well and in the first two minutes Clark & Edwards worked a through ball to Dyer to finish off the move but wide of the post.

Two minutes later another bit of pressure had Horndean clearing their lines quickly and up stepped Kelly 30 yards out to hammer the ball goalwards. The keeper wasn't troubled. Delaney offered tuition.

12 minutes and bad luck struck. Luke Homer making his first appearance for the team this season fell heavily and damaged his ankle. A later hospital X ray revealed a fracture. On came Charlie Elysee to fill the spot.

14 minutes and the first real threat emerged from Horndean. It had taken time to settle but their movement through the middle and then a testing shot spoke of things to come. Lynch covered the shot well and a throw found Gajic. A crossfield pass to Hill and a cross shot went wide.

Horndean moved the ball well and with 18 minutes on the clock won a free kick. A nicely judged ball found an unmarked head 0-1.

The game got scrappy. Passes were not as good as they should have been but the malady rested on both teams.

26 minutes gone and Sattersly broke through into the box but before having a shot had the ball whisked from his toe.

We pressed forward with Clark and Dyer making a break down the right. Dyer slid the ball into the box and Sattersley tried a half volley but straight at the keeper. 36 minutes Dyer broke free and a low cross gave Edwards a chance but a topped ball was easily cleared.

We'd had a purple patch but Horndean hit back and a flurry of attacks had us back pedaling. Evans made a couple of crucial tackles and Elysee had control of his flank.

We drifted, lost purpose and found ourselves defending desperately. Lynch again was a hero with a flying dive and Delaney cleared a shot heading for the top corner.

41 minutes…the inevitable. It looked like Madame Tussauds. In floated a half cross, up went an unmarked player and Lynch had no chance. 0-2..

v 46 minutes and Lynch saved a low shot on the line.

Half Time 0-2

We needed a vast improvement and certainly kicked off well with Sattersley making ground on the right but having to watch his shot clear the bar.

Hill took up the running with 6 minutes gone taking on and beating the full back, Hill chipped the ball to Elysee. A shot clipped the bar.

A minute later we were still on the attack and Gajic let in Edwards. Edwards followed the previous efforts with s hot wide of the post.

Horndean broke wide right and a deep cross was cleared by Kelly. Clark slipped the ball to Dyer. Dyer wasted no time in hitting for the far post. In came Edwards, but the header flew wide.

12 minutes and we got what we deserved. Evans raced down the right spotted Edwards on the edge of the box and an inch perfect ball rolled on the deck was slammed past the keeper. 1-2.

We looked as if we could pull back the deficit and continued pushing forward.

Horndean tucked in and defended well. Counter attacks were good, keeping our defence on their toes. There was no complacency and we looked a much tighter unit.

61 minutes Clark made way for Webb.

Only two minutes later Delaney passed back to Lynch. A long kick found Webb. A header on to Sattersley and a volley flew over the bar.

If we had had more direction we could have been in front. Shooting accuracy was abysmal.

67 minutes and Hill drifted in from the left. A dipping shot was beaten out. Sattersley followed in and his shot was blocked on the line. Evans raced in and fired for the bottom corner. The keeper dived low and made a brilliant save at the foot of the post.

71 minutes Elysee hit the side netting and then Webb tried a long shot that went over the bar.

3 minutes left. A ball slammed across the area and up went Gajic to plant a header for goal. Yet again the ball went over the bar completing a frustrating night.

Full Time 1-2.