SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WEDNESDAY 22ND AUGUST 2012
VERWOOD TOWN 1 DOWNTON 1

A good move from mid field gave Lynch a first feel of the ball as Downton tried a cross shot from the edge of the box but luckily without power. A throw wide to Anderton, a line ball to Batchelor and a long hopeful shot gave an indication that we could expect an open game.

8 minutes and it was Downton's turn forcing Lynch into a diving save. We reacted with Sid Edwards driving forward through the middle and a cute through ball sent Sattersly into the box to bring a fine save from Downton's keeper.

15 minutes saw Dyer and Martin Edwards opening up the right hand side. Edwards raced on to find himself clear in the box. Back to goal, Edwards dummied right, dummied left, twisted and topped a shot. Had he been on Strictly Come Dancing he'd have been an out and out winner.

For the purpose of future reports Jack Sattersly will become Satts. It will be a safety net from misspelling!

Satts broke away with 18 minutes gone and a good save gave us a corner. Delaney raced into the box, went up for the corner and sent a header wide.

A couple of minutes later Kelly floated the ball into the area and Anderton had crept in to see if he could maintain the Verwood custom of putting the ball wide of goal. Another success.

Downton slipped into gear. An attack down the left, a cross shot…on target…had Lynch gathering low. A throw found Batchelor. A long ball into space found Satts. A siding tackle brought an instant halt to the attack.

Gajic, beavering away in the middle created space down the right for Evans to latch onto a perfectly placed ball. A deep cross and Batchelor rose to head over the bar.

Delaney went close with a header and then Kelly drove a long hopeful shot over the bar.

5 minutes left Dyer tried a shot but kept up the tradition of missing the goal.



2 minutes left and Downton broke free. One on One…Lynch made a brilliant block to send the teams in a half time. 0-0

Half time 0-0.

An early skirmish in the middle of the park gave way for Satts to break away with 54 minutes gone. Outstripping the center half Satts found himself in the area with only the keeper left. This time Satts broke tradition. A right foot blaster whipped past the keeper to put us ahead. 1-0.

Downton, stung into retaliation, split us open on their right and a cross dropped onto the penalty spot. Kelly was first in and chipped clear. Back it came this time giving Evans a chance to clear completely away from the area.

Dyer collected wide. Cutting inside his marker Dyer sent Batchelor free down the left. A cross found Satts but before getting a shot away Satts was left without the ball as a toe end stabbed it free of the area.

Pressure mounted from a very resilient Downton. 71 minutes and a corner dropped for an overhead kick to plant the ball past the post.

72 minutes and a shot from the edge of our box went high and wide.

75 minutes another corner this time fisted out by Lynch. Back it came for Delaney to volley it down the pitch. Martin Edwards collected well and fed back to Gajic who shot wide.

A break down the right gave a chance for a shot giving Lynch to display yet again excellent handling

Martin Edwards gave way with 4 minutes left for new signing Chris Hall. It was instant baptism as Batchelor cut the ball back for Hall to send away Gajic. Gajic reached the edge of the box this time unchallenged and was unlucky to see his shot tipped over the bar. The corner was cleared.

87 minutes . Downton went down the left. Cut inside the box and an angled shot skipped past Lynch to make it 1-1.

Then followed chances at both ends as an open game continued. It made for a good finish but the result as the referees whistle blew… 1-1.

RESULT 1-1