FA CARLSBERG VASE - ROUND 2
SATURDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2013
VERWOOD TOWN 1 ALRESFORD TOWN 4

Dean Evans was suspended for this game (Yellow Cards) and although Chris Lynch came through a fitness test it was decided not to risk him for this game, so Dan Fawcett kept the gloves.

Only a minute gone and Fawcett had to dive and flick a ball off the line as Alresford put a quick break together. Kelly picked up the loose ball and cleared right. Saxby made ground but his cross was intercepted and again Alresford went for goal. This time a move down their right opened us up slightly. A cross field ball and play switched flanks. The shot on the run hit the side netting.

Oldring stepped in to stop a shot from just outside the area and Gajic cleared a cross from the right. It was a brisk opening spell.

We gradually got into the game and Lovell went close with a shot from the edge of the box. Then a very debatable refs decision upset a growing rhythm when Lovell chased down a Haskell header. The goalkeeper raced to the edge of the box to head clear as Lovell tried to bring the ball down. It was a high boot but no malice. The ref decided it was dangerous play and Lovell got a Red.

Only 10 minutes had elapsed so it was a shock to the system to go down to ten men with 80 minutes left !

Brad Hill caught the eye with a bit of juggling skill as we gained ground to the edge of Alresford's box. Hill's volley though was high and wide.

Alresford movement off the ball caught us out when they broke through but Fawcett went down swiftly to gather at the foot of the post.

26 minutes and another shot from inside our area was brilliantly flicked off the line by Fawcett, but this time a player benefitted as it fell a yard off the line. 0-1.

Despite this set back Oldring and Kelly mustered the mid field and scrapped our way back into the game. Haskell was now a lone runner but did a great job chasing down anything remotely like an opportunity.

Webb and Dyer were now enjoying more of the ball and Saxby looked a threat with his pace causing concern to Alresford's back four.

It was Saxby who raced free with 5 minutes left of the half and squared the ball across the box when it would have been easier and a better chance had he been more selfish.

Haskell then headed a corner inches wide of the post as the half closed with Alresford ahead 0-1.

Half time 0-1

47 minutes and a cross from the right was side footed wide of Fawcett's post. We hit back with a Dyer and Saxby link splitting the defence for Webb to try a shot but that went wide.

Homer won a tackle wide left and moving up field was joined by Oldring. Good passing opened up a gap for Haskell but the shot was well taken by the keeper.

We were enjoying more of the ball and Homer was instrumental in a move down the right. A ball to Webb on to Saxby and a deep cross found Homer as he followed up. The header was on target but straight at the keeper.

Haskell was proving a handful and doing a great job holding up the ball for Hill and Saxby following up. Saxby hit a ball across the box and Homer again headed for goal but only into the keeper's gloves.

Pressing forward left a gap. Good footwork from Alresford's forwards left space and a curling shot made it 0-2.

We fought back. Hill shuffled his way through a tackle and slipped the ball wide to Saxby. Cutting in Saxby this time went the selfish route and we benefitted from a great shot making it 1-2.

Alresford's header from a corner was tipped over the bar by Fawcett and then Haskell watched his header slip inches wide of the post.

We had to go for broke. Adie Arnold pushed players up and we should have scored from a terrific piece of Dyer play rounding off with Oldring hitting the side netting.

Gajic then slipped through the middle and tried a rising shot that whipped wide of the post.

71 minutes had Oldring heading a corner clear then Kelly headed a dangerous cross clear for Saxby to take the ball into Alresford's third. His cross was volleyed

wide by Webb. Elysee came on for Homer on 75 minutes. 82 minutes though a ball put into our six yard box took on the role of ping pong ball finishing with a tap in 1-3.

87 minutes Alresford counter attacked …. Result 1-4