WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WEDNESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER 2013
VERWOOD TOWN 2 AFC PORTCHESTER 2

Another chilly Wednesday evening at Potterne saw us welcome our long time rivals AFC Portchester for what promised to be a tough affair. It seemed to be shaping up that way when the visitors had the best of the opening quarter of an hour forcing two corners that were dealt with well. Our first real opportunity came on 16 minutes when Lovell worked his way into the box and although his cross eluded Saxby, Evans was on hand to prod home at the far post to give Verwood the lead 1-0

We enjoyed a good spell and shortly after taking the lead Saxby drilled a low shot which arrowed just wide. Our first corner arrived on 24 minutes and a partial clearance fell to Joy whose thunderous half volley from 15 yards smacked in to the face of a defender. On 39 minutes the visitors had probably their best chance when they were allowed a free shot from 12 yards which sailed wide when perhaps they should have scored. With half time approaching we forced a couple more openings, firstly the keeper dropped the ball from a cross but nobody was on hand to capitalise and then Hill got to the by-line and his cross was behind Lovell but Joy followed up and his shot was deflected for a corner.

H-T 1-0

Having defended so well against a strong attack in the first half we just took a little too long to get going in the second half and 15 seconds was all it took for leading marksman Musselwhite to turn inside the box and fire home 1-1. We were rocking a little and should have gone behind on 50 minutes when a clear chance was headed over from 6 yards. Having weathered the storm we won a free kick just inside the opponents half. Oldring took it and the kick glanced off a defenders head and fell to Hill whose superbly placed volley nestled in to the net. A great strike but the assistant referee didn't think so and flagged for offside, thankfully the referee was very alert and spotted the ball coming from the defender's head and allowed the goal 2-1

Portchester's reply was immediate but an outstanding block from Kelly stopped a shot that looked destined for the goal. We were not sitting back on our lead and this produced some excellent end to end football in the middle part of the second half. Chances for Gajic with a header from a corner and Homer who had a shot blocked by a defender on the line were sandwiched by two chances for the visitors one of which was a far post volley which all around were wondering how it didn't go in. With 15 minutes remaining Gajic picked up our first yellow card for a late challenge on the touchline and the resultant free kick was headed home at the far post 2-2

The remaining minutes of the game saw both teams slugging it out but no major chances at each end and the result finished the same as the reverse game at the beginning of the season 2-2 leaving Portchester still looking for their first victory over us in the Sydenhams Premier League.

F-T 2-2

Report submitted by Steve Jefferis