WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2014
PETERSFIELD TOWN 5 VERWOOD TOWN 1

We had a total re shuffle of the team because of absences. Missing … Dent, Evans, Gajic, Groves, Golby and Elysee. Tyler Rutten was still suspended following his red card flourish.

Heavy rain preceded the kick off making the surface slippy but playable.

Only one minute old and we lost the ball in mid field. A runner went free to blaze the ball over the bar.

Another snap raid through the middle but this time it was Buck cutting across to stop another shot. Buck's intelligent use of the ball sent Fisk clear but a shot from the edge of the box went wide.

11 minutes old and Lynch had to make a flying save as a cross shot headed for the bottom corner.

Then came an odd patch as a shot on goal was intercepted by Murray. A half clearance spun across the box. Lynch gathered before any toes could get to it but the referee judged it a back pass and gave a free kick 2 yds out !!!!

The wall did a job giving away a corner. The inswinger was judged to the 'nth degree by Lynch as he took the catch under the bar and intense pressure.

We hit back through Dyer and Cousins. Cousins pass wide to Fisk gave space. Fisk arrowed the ball across the area and Foster hit a volley but into the side netting.

We gradually got on level terms and both Foster and Whelan went close with efforts on the edge of the home teams area.

Petersfield's accurate passing and running off the ball created good viewing for the spectators and we had a few close calls at both ends of the pitch.

40 minutes and we won a free kick 35 yards out. Whelan's rising shot was perfectly placed to whip up the net in the top corner giving us a welcome boost. 1-0.

46 minutes and a clash in our area left Lynch writhing on the ground with a knee injury. A lengthy delay followed with Dan Scott finally getting Lynch back on his feet.

Half Time 1-0

49 minutes old and a Foster Whelan and Dyer combination took Foster close enough for a shot…high and wide.

Then came the sting in the tail. A high ball into our third and indecision as to who should clear the ball left a gap …. Petersfield made it 1-1.

A mad 10 minutes followed as we camped in our box with the home side peppering us off the flanks and through the middle. We had lost our mid field challenges and gave space for Petersfield to maximise their left side for a runner to break several time creating opportunities in the box.

62 minutes gone and we wilted. Stamina seemed to be at a premium and we gave way down the right hand flank for a runner, simple cross and a tap in 1-2.

Then came a general lack lustre performance as we coasted while Petersfield went into overdrive.

Lynch made a double save and Josh Buck was superb in his covering.

71 minutes and Cousins came off to give Lee O'Connell a run. O'Connell was immediately in the thick of it defending on the outside of our box as Petersfield mounted pressure. And were rewarded with another simple tap in 1-3.

Another break on the home sides left caught us flat footed but Lynch made a great save from a 2yd shot.

Whelan and Fisk broke free of midfield shackles and Whelan's shot whipped over the bar. It was a brief respite as we then gave up ground in the middle of the park again.

Gilchrist was split between defending the flank and closing down mid field runners leaving space at the back. Another flurry down the left a deep cross and it was goal number four for Petersfield as a cracking shot beat Lynch. 1-4.

5 minutes left of the game and it was an inevitable 5th on the cards as we muffed a clearance and a one on one resulted in Lynch being beaten on his right hand side.

Foster went close with an effort in the closing stages but our efforts on goal were few and far between.

Energy and quality beat us on the day.

Result 1-5

Report submitted by Bernard Scott