WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2013
VERWOOD TOWN 3 LYMINGTON TOWN 1

We didn't need much of a pre match pep talk as the pangs of guilt were still evident following the debacle against Christchurch mid week. We were up for it.

Webb and Homer were missing but we had Harvey Elsom and Sam Joy back.

The bench was swelled with youth as Adie and Darts brought in Matt Gilham Joe Kimber Alex Eaton and Ben Satterley Sadly it was distorted by the inclusion of OAP's Andy Dartson and Dan Saxby.

In the first minute Hill Oldring and Joy linked to release Joy on the right. A cross was beaten out by the keeper before Lovell could get a head to it. Kelly checked a swift counter attack and minutes later headed clear as Lymington pushed us back.

We gained possession and forced a corner. Oldring hit the bar with a header and Murray followed in with a good shot but firing high and wide.

Hill was enjoying himself on the left being given a bit of space and with Murray enjoying one of his better games worked the flank to the full.

Joy whipped in a cross from the right and Gajic was surprised to receive the ball 2 yards out. A snap shot was brilliantly saved by the keeper.

21 minutes and pressure paid off. Dyer's chip into the box was half cleared and Murray followed in to hammer a left foot pile driver past the keeper. 1-0.

6 minutes later Gajic won a tackle in the middle of the park and spotting Joy free on the right whipped a telling ball over the full back. Joy cut inside the area and scored a good goal with a right foot drive into the bottom corner. 2-0.

Lymington's response was an immediate attack down the left but Evans cut out the danger with a great tackle on the touch line.

Minutes later Evans again swept the ball away from danger as Lymington pushed forward.

38 minutes Hill broke free on the left and unselfishly squared the ball for Joy to shoot. The keeper made a great body block but the ball rebounded to Oldring who took great delight from a bit of space allowing him to slam a shot into the roof of the net. 3-0.

The score remained 3-0 at the whistle.

We won a free kick with a couple of minutes gone and the keeper's judgement was superb taking the ball cleanly under pressure.

Lymington seemed to have taken heed of their half time adrenalin shot and a good move down their right resulted in Fawcett having to make a save from under the bar.

A high ball over Kelly gave room for Lymington's forwards to make inroads but Elsom block tackled just outside the box and cleared.

Evans intercepted a cross with 53 minutes on the clock and a dinked ball over the back four gave space for Lovell to race free. The full backs did a great job of muscling him off the ball and then sparking another Lymington attack.

Elsom headed clear a dangerous cross and then Murray did well to get in the way of an angled shot destined for the goal.

55 minutes saw a break through for Lymington but a shot from a couple of yards was superbly saved by Fawcett.

The game was now end to end and Evans dropped an excellent ball on to the penalty spot. The keeper again did exceptionally well to take a clean catch under pressure.

Hill tried a shot but hit the bar. Oldring then did the same and Joy hit the side netting as we got back on top.

60 minutes and Lymington got the break they had been striving for. A good simple move, accurate passing and the ball finished up in the back of our net 3-1.

Tails up Lymington pushed on. Evans stopped a shot and then Fawcett punched clear as a high ball dropped dangerously near the line with bodies surging forward.

We gave away a corner. An in swinger was palmed out by Fawcett but fell to a Lymington boot. Kelly stuck his head in the way as we survived the onslaught.

75 minutes had us back on top. Oldring hit the bar out it came for Lovell to steam in but drove the ball on to the post. Joy hit bodies from the re bound and then Hill's pile driver hit the wrong side of the post giving Lymington time to take a breather.

Oldring's volley on 80 minutes was touched on to the bar as we tried for a fourth. Lymington's response was an admirable closing attacking mode but the whistle blew on a ………

3-1 Verwood win.