WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2014
VERWOOD TOWN 0 BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS 2

Matt McGilchrist phoned Friday night to say he wouldn't be available for the game as he had to work in London. It was a surprise to learn he worked in Soho.

So we faced another blight of player availability. Dean Evans (suspended) Josh Buck still ill. Back though was a bleary eyed Groves after a heavy Friday works 'do'. Tom Whelan was the oddest absence. A long standing arrangement with a 'friend' took Tom to Hong Kong as his friend was taking part in a horse race !!!! Carl Poore asked him to get his friend to sign on as we could do with someone sporting four legs.

The bench was thin until Carl Poore declared himself sub ! Two pairs of shorts cut in half and then re stitched did the trick. The bench then … Kris Anderton .. Fraser Read and Carl Poore.

Included in the team .. Ben Satterley … Joe Kimber . Russ Dyer went to right back whilst we were lucky to have James Murray available to fill the left full back spot making it a reasonable back four.

We got stuck in from the start with Fisk going wide right and delivering a great cross into the box. The keeper dived low to make a good stop.

Bemerton worked the ball down their right and a switch ball inside gave space for a shot. Lynch had it covered and hit it straight back into Bemerton's third. Foster followed up and tried a looping shot that just cleared the bar.

Satterley grafted hard in the middle and his tenacity paid off in winning a battle for the ball on the half way line. A quick pass down the left and Foster went free to cross deep into the box. Fisk hooked a shot for the top corner but the keeper did brilliantly in tipping it over the bar.

Kelly went up for the header and planted it just over the bar.

Foster's work rate was a highlight as he chased down everything possible.

30 minutes and a counter attack down the right went unchecked. A cross and a volley from the edge of the area whipped past Lynch. 0-1.

Dyer and Murray were busy closing down long balls down the flanks. Kelly and Gajic were equally busy controlling central raids.

The half closed with Groves trying a shot from only three yards but hitting the keeper.

Half Time 0-1.

Why it takes us so long to settle in for second halves is a mystery.

50 seconds had elapsed when we were split open on the left. A cross whistled across the box. In came a runner unchecked and fired a low volley past the post.

2 minutes and Lynch saved blushes with a fine save as Bemerton breached our defence again.

We steadied up. Rutten linked with Satterley to open up the right. Fisk rounded the back and fired a low cross that begged for a toe touch. No one got on the end of it.

Foster then tried his luck but yet again we saw the ball hit bushes at the back.

Chances went begging as we pushed Bemerton back. The box was congested preventing a decent clear opening. Groves tried from the edge of the box and then Foster had a shot that was blocked. We couldn't score.

Bemerton always looked dangerous on the break but we decided to go for broke. Gajic was pushed up and almost levelled with a terrific effort that blazed inches over the bar.

Murray made a crucial tackle on the left just outside the box and then found energy reserves to get him forward. Reaching the corner of the box Murray slipped the ball wide to Groves, on to Foster and a shot directly in front of the sticks unfortunately for us went straight at the keeper.

We were making chances but conversion was a massive headache.

Bemerton hit back. Good attacking play pushed us deep. Kelly with Gajic shuttling back proved an impenetrable barrier. Switching play to the flanks Bemerton made a breakthrough but Lynch performed an acrobatic save as the ball flew in from the angle of the box heading for the top corner.

We retaliated with Fisk cutting in from the left. A rising shot hit the side netting. Murray's cross was inch perfect for Foster to try a header. It was headed off the line. Satterley followed up but shot past the post.

We would have been well in front if the game had to be judged on near misses.

Bemerton were solid though and taught us how to put the ball in the net with a great piece of football and a slide rule shot curling into the net. 0-2. 82 minutes and off came Satts for Anderton and Tyler Rutten making way for Fraser Read.

We had a brief skirmish just before the whistle but again couldn't put the ball in the net.

Result 0-2.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott