WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 26TH APRIL 2014
VERWOOD TOWN 0 ROMSEY TOWN 0

Pride was only thing to play for in this match. Romsey had been condemned to the first Division and we had survived a traumatic spell that had left us just above the drop zone.

Typical of recent events and four games in 8 days we had a bare 11 with the bench being infiltrated only 15 minutes before kick off.

Alex Eaton took the 12 shirt and Sam Joy the 14 shirt. Sam was still carrying injury from Thursday but could stand on one leg. This was the qualification for inclusion.

A surprised Romsey watched Evans race down the line and before a tackle could be made Evans hit a cross shot that beat the keeper but inched wide of the post. Only a minute had elapsed. Was this a sign of a three pointer coming our way ?

Romsey dispelled the thought with a great attack threaded through the middle and a runner went free but luckily had been taught by our academy and hit the side netting.

Rutten making his bow in starting his first game for the first team collected a good ball from Hampton and cutting inside tried a shot but watched it go wide.

Molyneaux blocked a central run and slipping the ball to Evans sparked an attack down the right. Evans into Saxby and then in came Rutten to carry on the move finishing again with a shot going wide.

12 minutes and Saxby's ball down the left freed Lovell for a run on goal. Outstripping the centre back Lovell hit a left footer on target but a spread-eagled keeper deflected the effort for a corner.

16 minutes Hampton split the Romsey defence with a great pass down the left. Rutten raced to the area and was dropped with a fierce tackle on the edge of the box. The ref judged it fair and Romsey's counter attack went unchecked until the edge of our area where Lynch intercepted the ball to clear.

We then had a good spell with Lovell having a couple of good efforts, Saxby rounded the keeper on the dead ball line and a cut back was cleared for a corner. A clearance header fell to Elysee. His volley was blocked by a defender.

Rutten hit the bar with a header as the half closed with hopes for a Verwood goal coming in the second half.

Half time 0-0

Our usual opening gambit of second half displays took hold and Romsey almost went in front with a right flank opening and a cross shot was well gathered by Lynch.

We gave the ball away in the middle of the park and Romsey again made ground finishing with a volley that Lynch handled with great skill.

We tried to open up Romsey on the left but passing was abysmal and it looked as if Romsey had at least 15 on the pitch. Luckily Romsey's attacking skills were almost as bad as ours, non existent. It became a dour watch.

Both benches were frustrated with watching opportunities wasted. We should have had a collection to give fans their money back.

Then came a spell of 'Who can kick it the highest'.? Dan Molyneaux was under each plummeting missile and finished with a neck looking like the bellows on a piano accordion.

The game steadied for a while and some reasonable attempts to pass accurately were made. Lovell again went close with a low drive and Elysee hit a cracker that flew wide.

Lynch did well to curb an effort on goal and then Murray made the day with a pass to one of our team.

The game became a little bit frantic as both teams suddenly absorbed the score line. Pride took over for a while and we had a couple of spills and thrills as both areas were spasmodically invaded.

75 minutes Tyler Rutten came off to give Alex Eaton a run. Eaton's first attempt down the right finished with him being bundled over the line and then as he went for a header just outside the box fund himself star gazing as something equivalent to a truck bowled him over.

Unfazed Eaton broke the shackles on the right with a good run and his cross was almost turned in by Lovell. A defender on the line cleared the ball temporarily and in came Dyer to hit a volley for the top corner. A great save.

The drop kick landed just outside our box. As usual we had pushed up together and left the back exposed. A runner, but luckily we had Lynch at the back to sweep up danger.

Molyneaux continued with his battle against the high balls and Gajic was also responding to the challenge of keeping Romsey at bay.

A late flurry had both areas experiencing shots but no goals emerged.

Last league game of the season. A clean sheet and a point.

Result 0-0

Report submitted by Bernard Scott