SYDENHAMS (WESSSEX) LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 26TH JANUARY 2013
ROMSEY TOWN 1 VERWOOD TOWN 0

A rare occurrence for all of us at this club in the last 7 weeks saw a game of football taking place! A short trip east along the A31 and a visit to coach Andy Darnton's old club Romsey Town. The recent weather had left the pitch heavy but certainly playable. Verwood handed a debut to new recruit Jake Long at left-back. The game had not long started when a long ball found Webb outpacing the Romsey defence but his goalbound shot from the edge of the box was well saved by the keeper.

A quiet 20 minute period followed with both teams adjusting to the tacky surface but little in the way of goalmouth action. Romsey were starting to cause us a few problems. Twice in the space of five minutes a ball over our back four left the nippy forward one on one with Chris Lynch. Both times Lynch bailed us out with brave saves at the opponent's feet. In between these efforts a clever bit of skill by Dyer in the middle saw him free Edwards whose cross was cleared then Satterley's low hard shot was blocked by the keeper's legs and deflected onto the crossbar. The home side continued to threaten as the half drew to a close but Lynch was in fine form and equal to everything they could throw at him.

H-T 0-0

We started the second half brighter. Satterley was fouled 25 yards out and picked himself up to take the kick but it was straight at the keeper. On 56 minutes Verwood's best move of the match saw Edwards feed Saxby whose first time shot was also straight at the keeper. A major panic on 61 minutes when a free kick in our own half was played straight to an opponent on the half-way line, he sent his colleague clear but our defence had scrambled back to clear the effort off the goal line.

66 minutes had gone and Verwood were starting to exert a little pressure. A strike from outside the box by Edwards was blocked and Satterley's follow up shot was brilliantly saved. With 20 minutes remaining we were still taking the game to Romsey. Shots by Edwards and Saxby were blocked and one from Satterley was well saved again. Romsey were defending well and we couldn't find a way through. With 12 minutes to go we were given a warning when Lynch yet again had to perform heroics to thwart the on-rushing striker. O'Connell replaced a tiring Edwards on 80 minutes. With 8 minutes left the very danger that had haunted us all game finally proved our undoing. Lynch was left facing a forward clean through on goal for probably the fifth or sixth time and this time he couldn't save us 1-0.

We tried to rally but could not find a response. Romsey held on and were delighted with the three points. The Verwood management team were furious and the dressing room stayed locked for a long time after the game.

Final score 1-0



Report submitted by Steve Jefferis