WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
MONDAY 25TH AUGUST 2014
BEMERTON HEATH 3 VERWOOD TOWN 4

Heavy rain Sunday and overnight into Monday gave rise for concern but the Ground people at Bemerton had done a great job and the pitch was in top notch condition.

Carl Poore's Begging Bowl had been over employed trying to make sure we had a squad for this Monday fixture and it had paid off.

Lynch Evans Buck Dent Anderton Dyer Foster Gajic Munday Fisk Turner lined up, and gathering splinters …. Molyneaux Goddard Murray Collins & Rutten.

We set off with good football and Turner caught Bemertons defence napping chipping the ball into the box for Munday to follow up. A scramble in the box partly cleared the danger but Munday grabbed a half chance and slotted the ball past the keeper. 1-0 and only a minute on the clock ! It was a total reverse of our normal starting routine.

Bemerton hit back straight away with a good move through the middle and a switch left. Dent got under the cross and a header cleared our lines. Bemerton's determination was evident as the 'second ball' was swept up and a fierce shot was well saved by Lynch.

7 minutes and a Fisk run forced a corner. Buck's lethal left foot dropped the ball on the spot and but Fisk's header went over the bar.

Again Bemerton hit straight back and Dent got under the high ball to nod back to Lynch. Lynch sent the ball wide right for Foster to link up with Dyer. Dyer made ground and tried a hopeful shot but the home defence was solid.

Evans and Dyer then worked the ball down the right and a deep cross from Dyer was inched over the bar by Munday's right boot.

It was a good end to end game for the spectators and even more so for the home fans when a cross from the right went unchallenged and a simple tap in leveled scores. 1-1.

23 minutes and long high ball skidded across our area for a player to slide in and take the ball over the line 1-2.

32 minutes and Turners run down the left opened up a gap. Gajic collected the pass made the running and then found Munday just outside the box. A curling inch perfect right foot shot whipped past the keeper to take the score to 2-2.

Fisk and Gajic then went close just before the referee's whistle for half time.

Half Time 2-2

Bemerton's chat at half time gave an adrenalin rush. From the kick off Bemerton chased down the ball and a move on the right finished with a cross that flew across the face of our goal. Fortunately no one had followed up so we escaped as the ball went out for a throw.

48 minutes and Evans worked the ball down the right finishing with a great cross. Fisk headed back to Foster and Foster volleyed past the post.

57 minutes and we cracked. A simple piece of football unlocked our mid field leaving space for a good shot from the edge of the box. Lynch dived to palm away but a follow up chipped the ball into the net giving Bemerton a lead again 2-3.

Our reaction was instant. Munday and Dyer opened up the right for Munday to drop a ball onto the spot. Fisk followed in and powered a header into the top corner. 3-3.

Both teams went for a win.

Bemerton wasted a glorious chance to go ahead when we gave space just outside the box but tip tapping between players gave Buck a chance to sail in and whip the ball away from danger.

Munday then went close again but in the 57th minute it was Fisk converting a terrific cross from Evans to put us ahead 4-3.

Turner's input had been immense and Carl Poore decided to rest his legs bringing on Tyler Rutten. Carl Foster equally wanted a well earned break and Brad Goddard came on to bolster mid field.

The game continued at a fast pace with both ends threatening to buckle.

Fisk then made way for Murray as we pushed on. Munday and Evans again linked up to create space outside the area and Munday finished off the move with a shot on target but that was palmed over the bar.

Murray had to do some tracking back helping out Buck as Bemerton went for a leveller. We held tight and the whistle went on a hard earned but very welcome three points.

Result 4-3.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott