WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 12TH APRIL 2014
VERWOOD TOWN 1 FAWLEY AFC 1

Carl Poore's first game as Manager of Verwood Town FC took in the third game of the week. A lot of tired legs and another changed squad because of injuries and absences.

Maybe Carl's presence was the reason for a 50 second attack. Murray lobbed a delightful ball to Saxby. Saxby went clear and lobbed the advancing keeper. The ball landed on top of the net.

5 minutes and Lovell wriggled free of his marker to make inroads into the box. A left foot shot didn't have the pace needed so the keeper had an easy catch. Lovell mirrored the move again 2 minutes later but this time a full back stepped in to stop the ball on the line. The keeper dropped on the ball before Saxby could reach it.

8 minutes we were still on the attack and forced a corner. Saxby found Joy and a header flew under the bar. 1-0.

A good start, but the question remained, could we maintain it?

19 minutes and Saxby went free of his marker, the keeper was slightly off his line. Saxby chipped for the top corner but the keeper managed to get a hand to it and flicked it over the bar.

Fawley dug in and hit back down their left. Murray stopped the attack on the edge of the box and sent Molyneaux away down the middle. A ball wide gave Joy a run at the defence but a strong tackle on the edge of the box denied another attempt on goal.

It was scrappy and typical of two Clubs at the wrong end of the table anxious to get points.

We had the edge but couldn't score despite several golden chances.

The keeper was kept busy and pulled off some tremendous saves. The backs also made last ditch clearances with success chalked up by keeping the ball out of the net.

Fawley pushed us back in the last few minutes of the half and one attack forced a corner. We watched. …… Fawley didn't …. 1-1.

Half Time 1-1

Fawley's chat during the half time break had an immediate affect. 30 seconds gone and a snap run down the left let in the flank man and a good rising shot gave Lynch a chance to show his athleticism.

Fawley pushed the ball through the middle. We were slack. A ball wide and a cross was headed wide. It was an alarming spell.

We struggled to get a discipline and almost gave away a goal as a rasping shot went just over the bar.

Football skills were left in the dressing room as both sides became more and more frantic to score.

LSP in the middle of the park won a tussle and a good ball wide left found Hill. A jinking run and Hills cross went across the box just a couple of feet off the line. Everyone watched as it continued out into touch. A glorious chance missed.

Lynch then had to perform as Fawley pushed us back. It was still scrappy football but oddly enough entertaining for those associated with the Clubs.

Carl's addiction to Vallium is set to take off. Two unbelievable chances fell to Lovell and Saxby in front of the sticks but we failed to tuck them away. CP's pacemaker was in overtime mode.

Fawley's Manager then borrowed the pills as a shot hit the foot of our post. The ball rolled along our goal line, it was knocked back and a Fawley forward stood on it !!!

LSP gave way for Chas Elysee.

A minute later the ball was threaded through our backs and a runner had a one on one. Lynch won it. The score was still 1-1. !!!!!!!

Lovell went through and shot wide. Saxby hit a volley over the bar. Hill shot into the side netting.

Then it was Fawley's turn. A high ball cleared Molyneaux but out came Lynch to volley high into Fawley's box. Fawley's keeper did the same. Murray got underneath the missile and headed back into Fawley's third. The header back was picked up by Hampton. His drilled pass for Saxby went out for a throw.

Joy came off for Satterley.

It was still scrappy and frantic as the game closed on a point each.

Result 1-1.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott