WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
TUESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 2014
ROMSEY TOWN 1 VERWOOD TOWN 1

The game had been declared 'on' earlier in the afternoon following an examination by frogmen to check the lines were still in place.

Both squads splashed their way into the dressing rooms and several brave spectators arrowed their landing craft towards the stand.

An unusual setting greeted the teams as they lined up. A colourful buoy was anchored on the centre spot complimented by four bobbing small pontoons sporting the corner flags.

30 seconds and Dancer cut through the middle. A cracking shot was blocked on the line. Lovell tried a header from the re bound but the ball was cleared again. Oldring tried to put the ball in the net but only the side netting suffered.

Romsey hit back straight away flinging the ball wide Starboard. A high cross found a runner. A cut back was chipped Port side and a 20 yard effort was superbly held by Lynch. A good accurate throw found Evans and a long ball gave Saxby an opportunity to cut inside and try his luck. The keeper made an excellent diving save.

Thoroughgood stopped one hopeful run on goal and then Oldring did exceptionally well to intercept a cross field pass that spelled problems.

Aft, we had Evans Molyneaux Kelly and Thoroughgood with Oldring Gajic and Dancer amidships. It looked a tight formation. They were tested to the full by an inventive and hard working Romsey forward line.

Incessant rain pounded everything. Players were saturated whilst those occupying the dugouts were going through biological change. Gills had formed on Andy Dartson and Adie Arnold was now sporting a dorsal fin.

39 minutes gone and a well worked move finished with a ball in the box and a game of ping pong. Romsey pounced on the opportunity and the ball nestled in the back of the net putting the home crew ahead. 0-1.

Oldring prodded and pushed. Gajic responded with a good run and Saxby rounded off the attack with a shot hitting the side netting.

Despite the conditions both side were committed to attack but defences held firm with excellent goalkeeping on display.

Half Time 0-1

The Ref emerged first, wearing a crown a long robe and carrying a trident. He was accompanied by his assistants who had been affectionately christened Nemo and Flipper. A pitch inspection was said to be necessary !!!

The Bathyscaphe steadily sunk into the depths. Re emergence declared the game to continue. Neptune said the ball wasn't sticking in the mud. No one was surprised because it kept floating to the surface !!

Lovell may have sparked a new trend as he donned amphibious boots.

A flood outside the dressing rooms was so deep we had to call the RNLI to get the teams to the pitch.

We kicked off again. The IOW ferry had turned left instead of going straight on. It created a tricky moment for Evans as the bow wave took away the ball as he went to launch a pass down the line. Saxby dropped back to collect and flipped the ball high for Lovell to head on and make way to goal. A strong tackle stopped progress.

Romsey full of verve and playing well pushed us back. A ball wide to Starboard opened up a gap and a runner looked to have only Lynch to beat.

Nemo's Aldis lamp blinked and we got an offside decision.

4 huge cases each 75 packs x 20's Tena Ladies were delivered to the dugout. It wasn't enough. Trousers/tracksuits still dripped. Where Bernie Scott had been on view in the first half now sported floating cups and flask. A line of bubbles showed there was still some life under the waves.

Thoroughgood blocked an ariel attack and Kelly cut round the back of Molyneaux to stop a cross from getting into the box.

Ben Satterley came on with 15 minutes left followed shortly after by Tyler Rutten putting on his trunks to enter the fray. Those substituted headed straight for the dressing room carefully navigating round the dressing room entrance.

The wind worsened. A Gajic throw in finished up in Basingstoke. The rain still belted down.

83 minutes we won a corner. The ball whistled into the box. Gajic rose higher than the rest and an excellent header turned the ball into roof of the net. 1-1.

Both sides went for the winner so we were treated to a late flurry of activity but Neptune's whistle bubbled as he blew for full time with no extra score board activity.

Result 1-1

Report submitted by Bernard Scott