WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WEDNESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2014
NEWPORT IOW 1 VERWOOD TOWN 0

Mid week IOW is never a good fixture for getting a squad together in time for Ferries and mind sets for a19.45 kick off.

This Tuesday night was no different but we had a good bunch of players able to make it but low on numbers. Carl Poore himself had to get changed for the bench (not a pretty sight).

We hadn't settled and consequently suffered. Newport got stuck in from the whistle and we found ourselves back pedaling to shuffle numbers into the box.

Lynch hoofed one attempt away from the foot of the post and then palmed out a tricky swirling ball from under the cross bar.

Only 3 minutes had gone and a good piece of football from the home side opened up our left flank. A cut back into space and a runner slotted the ball neatly past Lynch into the bottom corner. 0-1.

Newport maintained the pressure and both Evans and Buck shone in the full back spots keeping the ball on the lines.

We gradually found our feet and Evans linking with Whelan split the home defence and delivered a line ball for Fisk to round the full back and send a low cross into the box. Rutten raced in but couldn't reach it as it sped on and into touch.

We pushed on and a Fisk Whelan move left Whelan free to shoot low for the corner of the net. The ball took a deflection and went out for a corner. Foster gathered the ball on the edge of the box but shot into defenders. A high headed clearance gave Newport an opportunity to break. Gajic made up ground and cut out the danger giving away a throw.

Anderton intercepted the high ball and whipped out a good pass for Rutten to test the full back. A good tussle followed with Rutten gaining a throw. In came Fisk to try his luck but his volley was brilliantly saved by the keeper.

We kept pushing forward with Newport always looking dangerous on the break. Both teams were contributing to an excellent spectator view with thrills and spills frequent at both ends.

Lynch brought off a great diving save from a cross shot and then we retaliated with a Russell Dyer special… a run and shot that brought out another good save from the home keeper.

Half Time 0-1

We continued where we left off. Rutten made ground within a minute of the re start and a low cross was inches away from Fisk's boot. Seconds later Rutten again went wide left and a low cross this time went through the box without any player getting a toe to it.

Newport worked their right flank and got a good low cross into the penalty area. Lynch did well to catch a flicked ball heading for the inside of the net.

Buck was having a great game defending well and getting forward at every opportunity. One instance saw Buck race away from his opposite number and a 20 yarder brushed the top of the bar.

Whelan gets better every week. Pushing and probing he split the central defenders with a great through ball for Fisk to go free and try his luck.

The keeper was having probably one of his better games and a tremendous leap put the ball over the bar.

The corner dipped into the box and a scramble followed with Newport managing to get a toe to it and send it upfield.

Anderton headed back and Dyer whipped in an angled shot that whistled wide.

We just couldn't put the ball in the net. Fisk again went close and Murray slammed a rising shot over the angle.

Evans went on a gallop and his hard low cross was read by Fisk. A glancing header missed the post by a coat of varnish.

Again it was a game for spectators and certainly not management.

Carl Poore had contacted a stomach bug at the week end. This game and his bug meant a swift departure for a short while.

Murray came off to give Lee O'Connell a run with 34 minutes gone.

O'Connell was in the thick of it within a minute of going on. Buck overlapped and a great cut back ball found O'Connell. A flick inside found Whelan. Whelan back out to Buck and an inch perfect ball was headed goalwards. The keeper made an excellent save palming the ball out of the area.

Whelan won a tussle for the ball but was floored. He lined up himself and delivered a rocket of a shot from 20 yards. Unbelievably the keeper flung himself across the line of flight and turned the ball round the post.

The night continued unrewarded so we finished 0-1 and just made the 10.15 ferry back. Our only consolation was the Chips Sausage and beans laid on by Red Funnell.

Result 0-1

Report submitted by Bernard Scott