SYDENHAMS (WESSSEX) LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2012
VERWOOD TOWN 1 NEWPORT (IOW) 5

20 seconds and a Gajic rasper whistled past the post. Was this to be our day? No.

3 minutes and Delaney headed clear. A minute later Toomer palmed away a cross. The header back into the box was booted to safety by Evans.

It was as though someone had ring fenced our area…with us penned in. Good accurate passing within the Newport team meant we couldn't get the ball. At one point we threw on a spare match ball so we could recognize what the missile looked like.

5 minutes and Newport broke us open on the right and a cross shot whipped past Toomer into the bottom corner 0-1. Out came the abacus.

7 minutes and some quick exchanges between the Newport mid fielder's gave them access to the edge of the box. A low shot was half cleared by Delaney….a half chance presented itself..0-2.

We tried to get back into the game but looked ragged and disjointed. Evans cleared a cross and then Kelly blocked a point blank effort to save Toomer a bad back.

11 minutes another cross and Evans again headed out of the 6 yard box. The clearance fell to an unmarked player and we stood back in admiration as he took time to control the ball and fire in a rising volley. Toomer fortunately wasn't impressed and leaped to his right to palm away a certain goal.

From the dugout and stands it looked like the Alamo. We just couldn't get going. An odd attack gave hope of a revival and Satts on 18 minutes tried a shot but watched it go wide. The keeper continued his nap.

Newport's defence didn't have a lot to worry about except getting away on time for their ferry booking.

29 minutes and Toomer again had to take a rising shot destined for the roof of the net.

30 minutes Toomer's drop kick finally came out of the clouds for Haskell to nod on to Satts. A shot hit defenders and was cleared wide right. A cross found a head but luckily it went straight to Toomer.

38 minutes Saxby was allowed a glimpse of the ball and goal but nothing came of the event. 39 minutes and a move through the middle…no challenge….0-3.

Half Time 0-3 Half time chat and out we came to try and retrieve a savaged reputation.

49 minutes Saxby won a tackle wide right and Evans backing up took over the running. A good cross found Satts racing in and a side pass to Hill gave space for a shot. Hill watched in agony as it went narrowly wide with the keeper beaten.

This was much better. We put some bite into the game and matched Newport in the middle of the park in industry and good football.

52 minutes and we got a reward when we created a gap through the middle of the park. Gajic and Haskell moved the ball on to Saxby and a coolly taken goal chipping the ball over the keeper gave Saxby registration on the score board.

Newport's reaction was a raid down the right a deep cross that Toomer did well to tip round the post. The corner floated in on the penalty spot. Smith rose high to head clear.

Delaney and Evans linked on the right sending Dyer away. A ball wide to Hill, down the line and a cross was met by Haskell. A coat of varnish was the gap between the ball and the crossbar.

It was a much better performance and both Adie Arnold and Andy Dartson had taken off their masks.

Gajic hit a screamer that was punched clear and then Haskell had a shot kicked off the line.

We were competing better but there was always a threat that given time and space Newport would be back in with a vengeance.

68 minutes and Satts came off to give Steer a run. Steer's pass a minute later gave Haskell a chance near goal but the shot was well handled by the keeper.

Smith stopped a counter attack and then Delaney cut out a cross from the right.

Haskell worked the flank with Hill and a cross had Gajic rising high to plant a header just over the bar.

Newport rallied and in the 88th minute and 92nd minute scored two opportunistic goals to finish scoring…

……………… Result 1-5