WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
TUESDAY 8TH APRIL 2014
MONEYFIELDS 3 VERWOOD TOWN 1

Some of the squad, working away, made a tremendous effort to get to the ground, enabling us to get a good squad together for this away fixture.

Sprains and bruises having little time to cure between games, were a priority for attention. Eventually the walking wounded took to a pitch that was in good condition although a little slippy.

Lovell lost a race with the keeper for the ball with only two minutes gone as we pushed up. A long high kick fell into our back four and Elsom was first to it to head wide for Hill. Hill's progress was checked by a strong tackle and Moneyfelds counter attacked.

Molyneaux made a good tackle on the edge of the box and Evans picked up the pass to free up Elysee. A high cross fell into the box and the keeper did well to catch under pressure from Gajic.

It was a good start and we were playing better than we did against Totton & Eling last Saturday.

10 minutes and Lynch taking a dead ball kick found Murray on the left. A line ball to Hill and Hill spurted past his marker. Good defensive cover though blocked his cross as the central defender cut across the flight of the ball.

21 minutes Moneyfields sent in a great cross into the box and we were beaten in the air. A header sped past Lynch giving a score line of 0-1.

2 minutes later we had attacked and got caught out when a clearance over the mid field bounced high towards our box. Lynch came out for the catch but a player nipped in and chipped the ball over Lynch to make it 0-2. It was a blow but heads didn't drop and we pushed forward again. Gajic cut through a tackle and a ball to Dyer gave an opportunity for a decent shot at goal. A good keeper made the catch look easy.

35 minutes and Moneyfields were back on top. Good attacks though were capably controlled by Elsom Molyneaux `Evans and Murray. Lynch made a good save at the foot of the post from one shot that managed to sneak through.

Hampton was coming more into the game and a sweeping ball wide to Hill opened up the Moneyfields defence. A low shot went wide.

We lost our way at the back for a while and a couple of attacks could have resulted in a bigger score line but we went in at the whistle 0-2.

Half Time 0-2.

Aware of our dreaded bad starts to second halves we tucked in to curb an attack from the kick off. Murray took the ball off a toe in the area and slipped the ball to Hampton a switch wide right and Elysee cut in to try his luck from just outside the box. The ball sailed high over the bar.

Gajic worked the ball through midfield eventually freeing Lovell. The keeper came out quickly to divert the ball away from goal with his feet.

52 minutes we won a corner. Molyneaux went up high and won the header. A scramble on the line and it was Lovell's toe that put the finishing touch to alter the score line. 1-2.

We were enjoying a good spell and Hill's shot after 55 minutes deserved better than a clipped post.

57 minutes we suffered from pushing too many forward. A high cross into our box and a lone forward had plenty of time to tuck it past Lynch. 1-3.

Dyers dead leg forced a change and on came LSP. Gajic dropped back to mid field and LSP took up a forward position alongside Lovell.

59 minutes we worked the ball down the right. Hill had switched wings and cutting past the defender Hill's cross into the box fell for Lovell. We still wonder if it was the pitch that caused Lovell to stand on it rather than put it into the net or if it was merely mistimed. Whatever it was the score line remained 1-3.

Lovell atoned quickly and a great piece of footwork took him clean of the full back. A low ball back to Hampton had created space but Hampton's shot went wide.

Elsom made a crucial tackle on the edge of our box as Moneyfields hit on the counter.

Another flank move opened us up for a shot but Lynch gathered well low to his left.

Evans won a tackle in our third and making a break forward dragged the full back. Hill benefitted and his run into the box finished with a low shot but straight down the keeper's throat.

Lovell had another crack at goal that was well saved and then fresh legs were brought on in the form of Ben Satterley allowing Elysee to take a breather. Satterley's entrance was highlighted with a tussle for the ball resulting in both players hitting the deck. Handbags were disposed off and our free kick was headed just over the bar by Lovell.

Gajic tried a shot as we tried hard to reduce the deficit but Moneyfields were solid and the score finished at 1-3.

RESULT 1-3.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott