WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 22ND MARCH 2014
DOWNTON 0 VERWOOD TOWN 3

Welcomed back for this fixture was Harvey Elsom and Mike Haskell. We had a full squad less of course Ben Kelly and Matt Oldring who had left for Blackfield and Langley and Guildford respectively.

3 minutes old and Gajic broke away down the right. A good cross made the keeper come out to make a good catch whilst under pressure from Haskell. A big boot had chasers but Molyneaux read it well and was first to head away. Elsom followed up taking the ball wide left. A line ball found Hill. A cross reached Saxby and an intelligent through ball gave LSP a chance to shoot from a narrow angle. The keeper made sure of safety by taking the ball at the foot of the post.

We gave away a free kick on the right. The ball dipped into the 6 yard box. Lynch was first to it and fisted the ball out to Dyer. Dyer gained ground and slipped the ball to Hill. A cross from the bye line found Haskell. Chesting it down to Lovell gave space. A shot was beaten out. Saxby nipped in to fire low and hard for the bottom corner. A boot deflected it for a corner. Up went Haskell but watched the effort fly over the bar.

Back came Downton. Good football took them to the edge of the box and it took a tremendous tackle from Evans to clear wide. A clash for the ball left the referee no alternative but to allocate a free kick to Downton. The ball floated into a tightly packed area. Molyneaux rose high above the rest to head clear.

Downton put together a good move down the right. A deep cross was watched carefully and taken clean by Lynch.

Dyer's energy was on show with tireless effort in the middle of the park. Saxby's support behind Lovell was a telling factor in the push forward.

Saxby then put icing on his cake with a break from the left. The keeper came out to narrow the angle and Saxby chipped him to put us 1-0 ahead.

Elsom and Molyneaux were tested to the 'nth degree as Downton pressed for the equaliser.

Lynch was busy and on one occasion had to race out of the area to head clear.

Haskell ploughed through a couple of tackles and tried a shot that wasn't a problem for the keeper.

Lovell went close on half time but the score remained 1-0 in our favour.

Half Time 1-0

Half Time talk was geared towards remaining awake at the start of the half to prevent the usual freedom we give opposition that inevitably results in a goal.

Elsom prevented a run on goal and then Molyneaux dipped in to head away a high cross. Downton pushed forward. A break in the middle allowed a wide ball right. A runner went free….Lynch came off his line to dive at feet making a superb save.

Saxby wriggled free of his marker and a shot from 20 yards went agonisingly past the post.

Downton's passing move with 15 minutes gone split us on the left. An angled shot was palmed away by Lynch for a corner. Hill read it well and took it away from danger. A line ball released Saxby. A pass inside to Haskell, on to Lovell and we were outside the Downton area. A shot was well taken by the keeper.

The long kick caught us out a bit and space allowed a runner to reach the edge of our box. A rising shot was on target but Lynch made an excellent catch.

Dyer won a battle in the middle of the park and moved forward. Saxby's intelligent run was rewarded with a through ball to feet. The keeper came off his line and Saxby had just enough room to dink the ball over him to make it 2-0.

MSP came on for Lovell with 70 minutes of the game gone.

Downton were at full stretch now putting in a 110% effort to reduce the deficit. Hill stopped one raid on their right and then Molyneaux broke up an interchange on the edge of the box. We remained solid during the onslaught.

80 minutes evidenced Saxby's best goal of the season. MSP worked hard to win a line ball. A run down our left and an excellent cross landed 20 yards out from goal. Saxby hit it with the outside of his boot and watched as it curved into the top corner. 3-0.

All credit to Downton. No heads dropped and a surge in play took an attack within shooting distance. Lynch again stood firm and made a great catch under the bar.

83 minutes Ben Satterley came on for Haskell. Satts got stuck in immediately and fresh legs gave us an edge to carry a 3-0 scoreline to the whistle.

The dressing room then had a shock as Adie Arnold and Andy Dartson announced their decision to resign from Manager and Coach positions respectively. A brief silence, then a round of applause followed for their input with everyone wishing them well for the future.

Result 3-0.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott