FA CUP EXTRA-PRELIMINARY ROUND
SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST 2013
NEWPORT IOW 4 VERWOOD TOWN 1

First minute of the game. A corner, undefended header, 0-1. What an introduction to the first round of the FA Cup.

It took us five minutes to settle. A Hill Murray and Saxby link gave Saxby an opening for a shot. A full back's stretched leg diverted the ball for a corner. Homer read it well and planted a header wide of the keeper. A defender was well placed to kick the ball off the line.

Newport looked sharper and on 14 minutes Oldring's tackle on the centre forward was judged a foul. A solid header flew goalwards but Lynch was on hand to make a good safe catch.

We got better. Half way through the half Homer worked the left flank with Murray. A cross for Webb was just out of reach as Webb slid in. Saxby picked up the loose ball and fired a low shot on target. The keeper made an excellent save diving low to hold the ball on the line.

Newport response was a raid down the right forcing a corner. In it came. Oldring rose higher than the rest to head clear.

Back it came, another corner. Oldring again won the tussle but this time the ball dropped on the edge of the box. A direct shot was blocked by Kelly, Dyer chipped in with a run out of the area to clear danger. A cross ball to Lovell on to Homer and a shot was beaten out.

A quick break on Newport's right and a cross into our box was cleared by Evans for a corner. We filled our box only to give away another corner. Lynch this timed waded through bodies to punch clear.

Lovell went close with 10 minutes left and then Saxby raced round a defender to hit an angled hot into the side netting.

Our malaise of bad finishing continued. Murray's dipping effort went high over the bar and then Homer watched a good keeper safely turn his volley round the post.

Kelly joined in for the corner but his header went wide.

Hill was our saviour in the closing minutes of the half with a great tackle on the edge of the box.

Half Time 0-1

It was almost a carbon copy of the first half with a raid down the flank and a cross forcing a scramble in the box. This time we didn't concede a corner and Lynch watched the ball clear the bar.

We hit back with Evans breaking away on our right. Saxby carried on the move and a cross found Lovell. A good shot on target was blocked on the line.

Hill tried a shot from the left and Webb forced his way through a couple of tackles only to put the ball wide of the upright.

12 minutes we gave away a corner and suffered a set piece watching the ball glance past Lynch to put Newport two up. 0-2.

Oldring mustered the troops and Dyer responded well with a run and shot that tested the keeper but didn't beat him.

Homer threatened following Murray's break down the left but a strong tackle on the edge of the area prevented a shot.

It was frustrating. We did the hard work in making headway in the last third but couldn't find the spark to score.

Murray's hamstring twanged and on came Darren Munday for his first outing with Verwood. He was in the thick of things immediately as we pushed forward and a good through ball found Lovell. The shot was wayward.

Homer was our main hope with a cracking display supporting Lovell and trying hard to make that all important breakthrough.

76 minutes a cross from Lovell at last found Homer in space and a close header put us back in the frame. 1-2.

Hill pushed forward joining Oldring in an effort to pull the score level. The keeper did well palming away a Hill shot and then catching an Oldring header from under the bar.

It was all or nothing. 4 minutes to go and Newport broke free on their right. A good ball laid back in the path of a runner ...1-3.

Extra time saw a repeat counter and the whistle went on a 1-4 score line.

The only god thing, it was Saturday afternoon and not an evening game. We got home before the milkman.

Result 1-4