WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2014
VERWOOD TOWN 0 HORNDEAN 3

A good squad a sunny afternoon and a gently breeze. Missing at the kick off … three points.

We started well with Groves and Turner making ground down the left. Groves finished the move with a great through ball for Fisk to race clear. Hitting the bye line Fisk hit a daisy cutter just into the penalty area but a sharp keeper dived full length to flick the ball off toes.

A good start but Horndean retaliated immediately with a counter attack finishing with a wayward shot on goal.

Good work down Horndean's right flank engineered a cross into the area but Dent went up high to head clear.

8 minutes and good football took Horndean to the edge of our box. Evans read it well and cleared with a header finding Lowes. Lowes made ground but was robbed before he could have a shot.

Turner's pace took him clear on the left but the keeper was quickly off his line to boot clear.

It was good end to end stuff with Horndean having an edge in possession.

Groves flicked a lob into the area and Fisk broke clear but headed over the bar.

The middle of the park was 51% Horndean's at this stage with Lowes working hard to make impact. Dyer blocked a couple of hopeful Horndean breaks and Buck on the left of midfield was busy containing a hard working attack.

Gajic, working in front of the back four prevented a couple of breaks through the middle and was instrumental in attack with Morgan rounding off the move with a rising shot that inched its way over the bar.

Lynch had to make a double save from a corner and mad scramble, and then raced out of his goal to head clear as we almost got caught wandering too far upfield.

41 minutes gone and a ball dropped into our box represented a hot potato. No one wanted to put their foot through it so it bounced around until a grateful Horndean boot stuck it past Lynch 0-1.

Half Time 0-1

Fisk had to come off at half time with a slight head injury and Tom Whelan came on to pep up mid field.

49 minutes though and we stood and watched a runner break free to put Horndean 0-2 ahead.

Our approach was luxurious rather than hard working and we went through a period where Horndean didn't have to work for the ball, we literally gave it to them.

Good link up play through the centre of the Horndean team created enough space and room for an effort from the edge of the box and Lynch couldn't do anything at all as the ball whipped past him into the top corner 0-3.

We rallied with Whelan and Lowes getting more into the game. Horndean's defence was a tight unit and didn't give much away. A no nonsense approach as well didn't allow the ball to drift anywhere near the box.

Jordan Dent came off for Dan Molyneaux and Molyneaux was right in the mix as Horndean mounted an attack through the middle. Molyneaux's header won the battle and Groves went free to square back for Turner to try a shot. A right foot volley went wide of the upright. It seemed to be one of those days when whatever the chance offered it wouldn't be taken.

Evans broke up an attack on the right and working the ball down the flank with Whelan found himself on the bye line. A hard low cross whipped into the box but Lowes couldn't quite get to it so another opportunity was lost.

A feisty challenge on Buck meant a substitution and a shuffle of the pack. Anderton went to full back and Charlie Gajic slipped into centre back.

We were working a bit harder and making ground through an industrious Whelan and Dyer link. Lowes was getting more into the game as well as we pushed on trying to reduce arrears.

Anderton joined our attack in the box and from a second corner headed for the top corner. It was brilliantly saved by the keeper. Horndean's defence on the day was rock solid and we couldn't break it down.

Whelan tried a shot from the edge of the box that flew over and then Turner hit the side netting.

Horndean's reply towards the whistle was an attack that could have produced a fourth had it not been for a brilliant combination save from Lynch. We started the game wanting three points and finished still wanting three points.

Result 0-3.



Report submitted by Bernard Scott