SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE CUP ROUND 1
WEDNESDAY 15TH AUGUST 2012
VERWOOD TOWN 5(1) HAMWORTHY UNITED 3(1)
(1-1 at Full Time, 1-1 After Extra Time, Verwood win 4-2 in Penalty shoot out

After two disappointing results in consecutive games we needed a much better performance without allowing complacency to creep in.

It was a god brisk start with both teams committed to attacking football. Gajic sparked hope with a run into the box but just before getting a shot away was robbed of the ball.

The clearance was intercepted by Evans. A run down our right and a low cross whipped across the box but allowed to go untouched and out for dead ball.

Hamworthy sprang a quick attack down their right. A low ball cut back across the area was on target but Lynch's handling was very sure.

5 minutes had Dyer in the box and a chip gave Gajic a chance with a header but the ball flew over the bar.

11 minutes Delaney won a defensive header and sent the clearance to Evans. A cross and a corner resulted. In it came …. another header and over the bar again.

13 minutes Lynch gathered a threaded ball and a long clearance released Satterley. Breaking through the middle Satterley ran free but was cynically dropped on the edge of the area. A red card was flourished and Hamworthy were down to 10 men. The free kick inched over the bar.

2 minutes later Hill jinked free of his marker and hit a volley…..wide. 1 minutes later a Hill corner…a Gajic header…wide.

19 minutes a lapse in concentration, a runner, a through ball and a coolly taken goal put us 0-1.

Hamworthy took to route one for a time as they regrouped. It almost brought a second goal as a ball floated over our defence freed up a runner. Luckily Lynch was alert enough to race from goal and head clear.

Anderton intercepted a ball wide and found Dyer with a cross field ball. Dyer rolled a pass into the box giving Edwards a chance to shoot. It went over the bar.

26 minutes a Hill cross reached Gajic. Good control placed the ball down for Edwards to volley…wide.

The best effort that deserved something was a Webb turn in the box and a fierce angled shot was brilliantly tipped over by the keeper.

Half Time 0-1

Frustration was rife. The number of chances we had in the first half should have resulted in a comfortable lead. We were dreadful. Hamworthy should have some credit though for their grit and determination in keeping as tight as they had been and still producing a fighting performance.

10 minutes gone and we continued where we had left off. Chances not taken but a bit tighter in the middle of the park..

Hamworthy's keeper saved a low Evans shot and repeated the performance 2 minutes later. At least these shots were on target.

18 minutes Evans and Delaney broke up an attack on the right. Delaney's pass wide to Edwards caught a gap in Hamworthy's defence. Edwards dropped a chip ball on the edge of the box to Satterley. Satterley's shot was going wide but half cleared. Dyer collected and crossed aiming for the penalty spot. It dropped precisely on the spot but no one followed in to take advantage.

20 minutes and Clark came on for Gajic. Instant involvement resulted. Clark broke free on the right and a low cross whistled past Webb's toe cap.

28 minutes Saxby's long awaited return after injury was complete as he came on for Edwards.

31 minutes Hill made great inroads on the left and tried a cross shot. The ball was beaten out and landed for a Clark shot…..wide.

32 minutes Clark was 25 yards out when a half clearance fell for a volley. A screamer hit the back of the net 1-1.

We dominated the rest of the half but the chances created were squandered. Again hats off to a resilient and never say die Hamworthy.

2 minutes left, an Evans and Saxby link left Saxby trying an angled shot but again frustration when the ball flew over the angle of the bar and post.

1-1at 90 minutes …. 30 minutes of extra time….a couple of good chances for Hamworthy and a good dozen chances for Verwood….still 1-1 at the whistle. In we went for the lottery of penalties. Our performance on goal during the game looked like a cozy win for Hamworthy. Verwood's full of surprises. Five cracking penalties pushed us through to the next round. Hamworthy missed the first one but went back with a great deal of pride in the performance of 10 men over 107 minutes.

Result 1-1 at 120 minutes…5-3 win on penalties.