PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
THURSDAY 17TH JULY 2014
HAMWORTHY REC. 1 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Holiday's robbed us of a couple of players so we only had 18 for this game. Charlie Elysee had recovered from his hamstring pull and made up the full back pairing with Dean Evans. Jack Lovell made a come back and slotted in alongside Jordan Fisk up front. Grant Cormack made his debut alongside Dan Molyneuax with Tom Whelan and Carl Foster 'In the Hole". Chris Lynch was in goal.

Foster and Lovell combined to release Fisk but the cross was intercepted and diverted for a corner. A high ball into the box was headed narrowly wide by Cormack.

We kept up the pressure and with 5 minutes gone Fisk broke into the area only to be felled. Fisk fired the penalty for the corner but a great save by Hamworthy's keeper kept the score sheet clean.

11 minutes and a good Hamworhty move resulted in Elysee making a sliding tackle to give away a corner. A thumping header just skimmed the angle of bar and post.

We hit back with Cormack making a break through the middle. An intelligent ball wide found Fisk. Fisk slipped the ball through defenders for Foster to make a run on goal. Again the keeper was alert to the danger and racing from his line diverted the shot.

It was good end to end stuff despite the hot night.

Lovell was coming more into the game now benefitting from Fisk and Evans passes in particular. Lovell had one shot deflected and another was watched over the bar.

A swift counter attack with 20 minutes gone had us stretched but Molyneaux raced across to block the cross and give Hamworthy a corner.

Lynch went high to punch clear. The ball landed for Whelan and a deft touch released Lovell. A good solid tackle stopped Lovell's progress.

31 minutes and Gajic strode away to spark an attack. Wide to Evans, on to Dyer and a good run gave space for the cross, Fisk headed back into the middle and Lovell was on hand to back heel a well worked goal. 1-0.

42 minutes Hamworthy worked the ball down the left. Lynch was quickly off his line to divert the ball off toes. The referee decided Lynch had fouled the runner !!! The ball was slotted into the net to make it a half time score line of 1-1.

51 minutes on the clock and Whelan's diving header from Dyer's cross flew inches wide of the upright.

Back came Hamworthy working the ball down the left. A good cross was blocked by Evans. Evans went free and a line ball found Satterley who had come on for Foster. A cross and Fisk was inches wide from scoring his first goal for the Club.

Whelan, now joined by Cousins, worked the ball right. Dyer jinked inside his marker and a low cross was flicked for goal by Lovell. The keeper made an easy catch and sent away his forwards on a brisk counter attack with a long high ball down the middle. Cormack got underneath it and headed on to Molyneaux. Molyneaux made ground releasing Fisk.

Fisk created a gap for Lovell and a driving low shot flew inches wide of the post.

Hamworthy brought on fresh legs and Carl Poore decided on Rutten, Reed and Guthrie making heir entry at the same time.

Guthrie bedded in quickly and beating one defender suddenly found himself chewing grass as a strong tackle stopped his progress. A looping free kick into the box was headed on to the bar by Lovell.

Satterley sent away Rutten and Rutten's pace took him free of his marker. A good low shot from the edge of the box was well taken by the keeper.

A few players were now blowing and the referee sensibly called time off for water.

Cousins was first to the ball after the start up and a great pass wide to Fisk created space for Fisk. A through ball split defenders and Lovell went free to slot the ball past the home keeper making it 2-1.

James Collins had come on for Lynch and had to show his qualities as Hamworthy pressed us back. A low shot for the corner was well held and then a flick over the bar prevented the ball slipping into the net.

Cormack cool and calm broke up a central raid and slipped the ball wide to Reed. A line ball found Gajic going wide. A run across the box and Gajic hit a great shot for the top corner. The keeper did exceptionally well to palm it over the bar.

Molyneaux joined players in the box and was unlucky to see his header skim the cross bar whilst out jumping home defenders.

The game slowed noticeably towards the end but both teams were committed to open football so gaps became apparent. Neither side though had enough left to alter the score sheet so the game finished with a Verwood win

2-1.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott