SYDENHAMS (WESSSEX) LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2012
GE HAMBLE 2 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Reflecting on our recent performances we should have had a few reservations about getting a positive result from this game when thinking of our goal getting exploits. In fact Hamble could be forgiven if they had fielded 11 forwards.

Yet another raft of changes as we hit the dressing room. This time we had Freddie Toomer taking the gloves from Gajic and two new faces …. Phil Midson and Lee O'Connell.

1 minute and the ball whistled in from Hamble's left. Delaney did well to cut it out before it hit the box. A ball wide to Saxby. Saxby made ground and a good cross found Gajic on the edge of the area. Back to Saxby, another chip and Gajic planted his header over the bar.

5 minutes and it was Satts sending a free kick just wide of the post. This was a better start than we had had in most of our games but could we keep it up?

Hamble's football quality showed through with 10 minutes gone as they eased their way through the middle of the park and a low volley went over the bar. Pressure was maintained resulting in a free kick on the edge of the box. A powerful shot was on target but Toomer made a great save down to his right.

13 minutes we were split open on our left as a Greyhound whipped past the middle of the park players making headway into our third. Evans made the all important challenge winning the ball cleanly from a sliding tackle. Evans slipped the ball to Saxby, on to Steer then Satts, back to Steer for NASA launch. Steer must be a top contender for the next Olympic grouse shooting competition.

Webb then won a tussle and a ball wide to Hill gave space for Hill to shoot wide.

26 minutes and Hamble moved slickly past our mid field creating space. A ball then wide, a deep cross and an excellent header found the net. 0-1.

No heads went down. It could be argued we were used to it.

10 minutes later Kelly shadowed a left flank run but couldn't stop the cross. Toomer had it covered and a safe pair of hands held the ball tightly as runners converged on goal.

Dyer Satts and Gajic got plaudits for attempts on goal at the end of the half but Hamble's defence felt comfortable in holding the half time score at…..

0-1.

Hamble continued where they left off, attacking our area. Toomer had to make a high catch look easy with only 25 seconds on the clock.

We steadied up a bit and hit back on Hamble's goal through Hill. A good cross was followed in by Gajic but the header was won by a very much on form centre half.

52 minutes and Hamble produced an excellent left sided move breaking through to the edge of the box. Toomer judged it to perfection and made a great save.

2 minutes later though and Hamble got what they had been striving for, a second goal. Constant pressure on the edge of our box opened us up and it was inevitable that the ball would finish up in the net. It did…0-2.

We were being overrun in the middle of the park. Webb was defending deeper and Delaney supported by Kelly were tremendous in their defensive roles. Evans also was in brilliant form.

Saxby had to come off with 60 minutes gone. Another hamstring victim and probably another absentee in our next fixture.

Midson did well to quell an attack on Hamble's left and a line ball found Satts. A snap shot was on target but the keeper made a safe catch. Midson then tried his luck with a 25 yarder but the keeper was off his line quickly to make a good catch.

We were playing better although aware of the danger from Hamble's forward line. Delaney and Kelly at this stage were outstanding. Evans pace was a revelation and we defended well.

71 minutes and Satts must have mishit a ball. It was on target !! It could have gone under the bar had the keeper not tipped it over. We stayed on the edge of the box as Hamble scrambled to clear.

73 minutes…..a shot from Steer hit defenders and bounced free, Gajic tried a shot that was blocked. Out it came and Delaney caught it just right. A low ball slightly deflected whipped the net up. 1-2

83 minutes Delaney smashed home number two from an O'Connell cross.

90 minutes and we saw the ball drop on the goal line with the keeper stranded. It wanted a toe poke. No one on hand….had there been a vet in the crowd we would have voted for our forwards to be put down. Bottom line though, good character and a deserved point.

Result 2-2