FA VASE 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND
SATURDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2013
HORNDEAN 1 VERWOOD TOWN 3

The whistle blew. Before the pea had stopped revolving the ball was in the net. It was a quick flick wide to Saxby, a through ball between the area and defenders, and there was Dan Munday nicking the ball. Taking it wide of the keeper we were one up after 30 seconds.

Adie Arnold and Andy Dartson went hoarse reminding everyone our charitable attitude shouldn't kick in. It's usual we give a goal away immediately after scoring or at the start of a half.

Luckily Harvey Elsom who was having his first game for the club at right back, wasn't accustomed to our usual style and booted clear a ball dropping nicely for a home player to have a pop.

2 minutes and Oldrng sprang to the rescue with a sliding tackle on the edge of the box taking the ball away from a shooting position. Horndean pressed forward. Kelly won a tackle and worked the ball down the line with Homer. A quick counter attack with Dyer finished the move with a shot just clearing the bar.

Back stormed Horndean. Good approach work finished with the ball going high and wide.

It was end to end stuff and Saxby Webb then Munday made their way through Horndeans third. Munday whipped the ball back to Webb whose shot was blocked and cleared. The ball landed 20 yards out from goal and Horndean got to it first. A rasping volley heading for the top corner was diverted by Fawcett for a corner. Oldring was first to the inswinger and a powerful header found Dyer. A crossfield ball gave Lovell space and a shot on the run whistled high clearing the fencing.

Shots at both ends went high and wide. Few were on target. One though with 32 minutes gone was delivered from the corner of our box and fortunately Fawcett was at his brilliant best parrying the shot and clearing the area.

40 minutes and a forceful Saxby run ended with a chip over the advancing keeper. Lovell followed in but slipped at the crucial moment and the chance to go further ahead went begging.

The whistle blew on a 1-0 score line. It could have been 6-6 had chances been taken.

Half Time 1-0.

Christmas came early for Horndean. 1 min 23 seconds and a throw in landed in our box. Heading tennis followed without much direction. Then an 'Up N Under' finished with the ball dropping on the inside of the post and settling just over the line. 1-1.

An industrious Webb brought Saxby into play and a return ball was fired on to Munday. A cross shot went wide of the post.

Then it was Horndean's turn to miss. A central move switching wide left finished with a cross and a header planted in the bushes.

60 minutes we cracked open a strong defence with Webb breaking into the box. The keeper came out and a tangle resulted in a penalty. The keeper got a yellow but Webb celebrated by getting our second goal. 2-1.

We almost gave away a second to Horndean but Elsom tidied round the back and cleared finding Lovell. A good run was halted by a strong tackle. Up stepped Homer and a free kick dropped nicely for Gajic to try a header but yet again we watched another effort sail over the bar.

65 minutes and we pushed forward. Pressure paid off. A back pass was intercepted by Munday and a low shot beat the keeper. 3-1.

All credit to the home side. No wilting, no heads down but a determined effort to get back into the game.

Oldring and Kelly did well to curtail central raids and Elsom who had settled in nicely gave a great performance at right back.

Homer's nomadic style had him foraging up and down the line and it was from one of his cavalier runs that Saxby almost put us four up with a header from a deep cross.

Horndeadn hit the bar. A run down the right and cross was headed inches wide of the post. Then a good shot from the edge of the box was well held by Fawcett.

Chances again went begging as both sides pushed on.

80 minutes and Darren Munday came on for Jack Lovell. Daz's first touch had the keeper scrambling as he made way into the box and a low cross was inches from brother Dan's toe.

A chance with 91 minutes gone fell to Horndean but again the shot was still climbing as the whistle went for full time.

Result 3-1