WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 9TH AUGUST 2014
VERWOOD TOWN 1 ALRESFORD TOWN 4

It was as though a time machine had been used for the start of this fixture. In the first two minutes Alresford had skipped through a static defence giving sight of goal. Their first run after 50 seconds was cleared but their second attempt on 2 minutes could have put them in front had their forward tied his shoelaces properly. The ball ballooned over the bar.

Dejavu. Last season we suffered on many occasions from not being 'with it' when we kicked off. This was a carbon copy. We looked asleep and disinterested.

We managed a quick attack after 4 minutes with Whelan & Turner cutting through a gap in the middle of the park. Turner finished off the move with a half volley but only saw the side netting bulge instead of the back of the net.

Dent and Cormack covered a lot of ground closing down a lively forward line and found themselves covering for our full backs as we pushed up too far. The loss of discipline was evident as Manager Carl Poore tried to rectify things from the line.

15 minutes and we gave away a free kick on the edge of the box. Lynch watched it sail over the bar whilst remonstrating with his defenders.

Elysee gave sign of life when cutting out a right flank move and then battling for the ball won his way through a rough and tumble to clip the ball on to Buck. Buck's run and cross should have produced a goal had someone followed up.

Alzheimer has a lot to answer for. We seemed to forget what we were supposed to have turned up for and tip tapped around in the box instead of putting a boot through the ball while it was bouncing on the spot. Alresford players joined in and tip tapped it over the line. 0-1.

A minute later we whipped the ball down the right. Dyer connected and a cracking low shot made the keeper go full length to palm away. Gajic had followed up and slotted the ball wide of the keeper into the bottom corner 1-1. Was this the turning point ?

Another minute elapsed and Dyer again was the provider this time arrowing the ball low across the area. Buck slammed a volley that hit the bar and bounced clear.

Whelan and Cousins linked play for Turner to have another run at goal but this time the angled shot was easily taken.

Then we had another goal area of comedy as we again messed around. A scuffed shot was body blocked by Lynch but the re bound was prodded in to carry a score line to half time of 1-2.

Half Time 1-2

Right on half time Dent pulled a hamstring so we had to have a shuffle of the pack with Fisk coming on to join Morgan Turner up front.

It didn't make any difference as Alresford struck within 20 seconds of the start to bring a flying save from Lynch.

40 seconds and a corner dropped on the 6 yard box. Lynch again had to save blushes with a punch clearing the area of danger.

1 minute and another corner was judged to the 'nth degree by Cormack as he got under it and cleared the box. It was won back by Alresford's midfield. A lob back into the box was then punched clear by Lynch.

We hardly won a ball for the first 15 minutes so Carl Poore considered booting a spare on so we would realize what it looked like.

Then, signs of life again. Dyer made the running cutting diagonally across the park. A switch ball found Fisk and a shot from the edge of the box sailed narrowly over the bar.

Fisk tried his luck again taking a good through ball from Turner but this time his shot hit defenders.

53 minutes and Elysee made way for another shuffle. Rutten came on to join the midfield while Buck dropped into the full back spot.

We were under the cosh again with Alresford looking the more sprightly of the teams. Gajhic and Cormack were busy but there were signs again of Romany Heritage taking control of our full backs.

Good flank raids but nobody dropping in to cover. Alresford thought it was Christmas. It looked as if Moses had been around and parted the ways for strolling attacks. We were shot apart defending and Lynch Cormack and Gajic had to take on the mantle of Superheroes to keep the score down.

69 minutes we gave the ball away again in midfield and a quick lob over the advancing Lynch made it 1-3.

Cousins off for Anderton. It made no difference as we meandered through the rest of the half. 92 minutes and we had pushed that far forward we looked as if we were at the back of Alresfords goal. …. Long Ball …. 1-4.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott