WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WEDNESDAY 13TH AUGUST 2014
FAWLEY AFC 0 VERWOOD TOWN 1

Holidays and Work schedules robbed us of four of the squad but we still had a good 16 to tackle Fawley.

We had to reverse the traits of the last two games where we meandered through 90 minutes and it was heartening to see that Carl Poores dressing room chat had affect.

Groves hunted down the ball in Fawley's third winning a corner. In it came and a goalkeeper's fist thumped it high out of the box but for another corner. Molyneaux joined the forwards for this one and was just beaten to the header. Whelan lashed it back from the edge of the box forcing another corner. This time the keeper took a high catch.

Fawley responded with good football out of the back and through mid field. A ball wide right gave space for a cross and it was James Collins turn to produce an excellent save.

Dyer forced his way through a hard sliding tackle and a pass inside found Whelan. A ball on to Foster and a cross gave Fisk a chance of a shot but the keeper went untroubled.

It was a good game to watch as both side played open football with a willingness to go for goal.

Whelan's left foot shot with 10 minutes on the clock hit the foot of the post and then Gajic sparked a move linking with Buck. A well placed cross landed on the penalty spot for Foster to volley but watched it fly inches wide.

Again Fawley hit back bringing a good save from Collins. Another quick break had Buck making a great tackle to stop progress into the area. Evans had to carbon copy as Fawley mounted pressure.

Molyneaux cleared a dangerous break and Groves skillfully brought the high ball under control releasing Fisk. Fisk raced across the area and unselfishly slipped the ball to Foster. A low shot was on target but the keeper did well diving low to his right and holding the ball on the line.

Groves held up a chest high ball from Buck and slipped a pass through defenders for Fisk to slam a right footer. The side netting took the force of the shot.

44 minutes Groves again brought Fisk into play on the right. A good cross and there was Foster to place a bullet header into the net. 1-0.

Half Time 1-0.

Both keeper's were tested in early s

tages of the second half and both keeping the score board at 1-0. Fawley were enjoying a bit more possession than us at this stage and Evans Buck Molyneaux and Anderton were pushed hard. Anderton made a sliding tackle on the bye line resulting in a free kick. Molyneaux got under it and cleared. Groves laid it back to Evans and a line ball sent Dyer free. Dyer's cross was inch perfect for another Foster header but the keeper yet again denied a goal.

Whelan's corner fell nicely for Fisk and the ball flew into the net. Celebrations were short lived as the referee blew for a foul. Straight back into our half and Collins timed his run from goal perfectly to head clear on the edge of the area.

It was good end to end stuff with both teams trying to maintain good open play.

We pushed Fawley back into their third and forced a corner. Whelan's cross was met perfectly by Foster but although on target the keeper reflexes did him proud as he palmed the shot over the bar.

Then Fawley had a spell in our box and a melee finished with he ball sitting at the back of our net but had been touched home by an offside boot.

75 minutes and Fisk came off to giver Rutten's legs a run. Groves had him involved straight away with ball threaded through defenders. Rutten's shot hit the side netting.

Then Foster came off for Elysee to take up a wide left position. Elysee's defending capabilities came in handy as Fawley pressed forward down their right. Elysee took the ball in a sliding tackle but then was hunted down by Fawley's mid field to be flattened by a hard tackle. Buck took the free kick dropping it into the box. Dyer tried a shot then Whelan hit the rebound. Again though bodies blocked route to goal.

The clearance went wide left. A quick break took play to the edge of our box and a deep cross flew across the face of goal without anyone on hand to touch it into the net.

Fawley increased pressure. A flowing move down the right was finally halted by a Molyneaux tackle. A high ball was brought under control by Groves. Slipping the ball back to Gajic created space for Gajic to try a 30 yarder. Over the bar.

Anderton gave way for Cousins to join in. The ball was more in our half at this stage than in Fawley's.

Carl Poore had gone past the nail biting stage and was down to knuckles. It was a tense last few minutes as Fawley went for broke.

Almost on 90 minutes play had to be halted when Groves followed a clearance from our box that was knocked on by Whelan and landed a couple of feet from the Fawley line. Groves went in for a header but clashed heads, meaning lengthy treatment for our centre forward. The wound was severe and Dan Scott spent a few minutes stopping blood flow.

Groves had to come off. The ball went for a bounce up. Players were drained after a tremendous effort.

Then the whistle blew. Three points hard won.

Result 1-0.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott