WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2014
VERWOOD TOWN 0 HAMWORTHY UNITED 1

Josh Buck made a welcome return to the squad releasing Russell Dyer for an attacking role.

The starting eleven Lynch Evans Buck Kelly Donachy Gajic Dyer Whelan Groves Fisk Foster Splinter group.. Rutten Richardson McGilchrist Murray Anderton

New signing Bay Downing unfortunately was unavailable as he had gone to Liverpool for Christmas and was still looking for his hub caps.

As usual we needed a couple of minutes to recognise we had kicked off. Hamworthy's left flank broke quickly and a cross, fired across the box, was headed clear by Kelly. The ball fell nicely for a volley but Lynch had it covered.

We then had a few minutes of no mans land until Gajic forced his way down the right winning a corner. Dyer's delivery found Gajic on the edge of the box but Gajic was blocked from goal by a packed area. Swinging the ball right Dyer whipped in the cross and got another corner. This time the keeper did well to fist away. In came Whelan and a low shot was diverted for the third corner in a row. Doncechy went up but his header went just wide of the upright.

We stayed with the majority of possession. Whelan brought out a fine save and then with 18 minutes gone took a 20 yard free kick that Gajic got on the end of forcing the keeper to take a great catch under the bar.

Hamworthy hit back and a looping cross dropped on the penalty spot. Kelly had it judged and headed clear finding Foster. Foster's run took him to the edge of the Hamworthy box and a low cross was only half connected by Fisk.

Donachy made a telling tackle winning the ball and releasing Whelan. On to Groves back to Whelan back to Groves now inside the area but the shot went inches past the post.

Hamworthy retaliated with some good play in mid field and then switched to flank. A good run down the right was halted by Donachy. A line ball brought Fisk into action. His cross was hit by Foster but straight at the keeper.

28 minutes and a Whelan chip was spot on for Gajic to head down into the bottom corner. A tremendous finger tip save from the keeper stopped us from going in front.

A minute later Whelan squared into the box and Fisk had an empty goal but fired over the bar.

30 minutes and Fisk went free again. The keeper came out quickly … Fisk tried to lob him but the keeper took the ball high.

37 minutes and Hamworthy worked the ball down the right. A cross swerved slightly, hit the inside of the post, and gently fell into the net. 0-1.

Then a body blow. A tussle on the corner flag resulted in Russ Dyer getting a red card !!!!! He was judged to have stamped on a player. The only stamp Russ is capable of is putting one on a Christmas Card. Anyway he walked.

Half Time 0-1.

It was a scrappy start to the second half with both sides passing to opposition.

51 minutes gone and Hamworthy got a free kick 25 yards out. The box was suddenly full of players. Lynch did well to climb high and through four bodies to punch clear.

We got the bit between our teeth despite having ten men and Whelan Fisk Groves linked with Whelan finishing off the exchange with a great shot that edged over the bar.

Fisk then took up right flank to race clear. A deep cross skidded across the box with no one getting on the end of it.

We were making chances but couldn't convert.

61 minutes and on came Richardson for Foster. A shuffle of the pack was needed and from which Gajic almost had the ball in the net from a clever Buck low cross.

Both Buck and Evans had been given licence to attack and we went close again with 70 minutes gone when Evans made ground and dropped a great cross in the six yard box.. Fisk tried a shot but hit bodies. Groves tried one from the edge of the area but again hit defenders.

Buck collected the loose ball wide and chipped it back into a crowded box. A goalkeeper's fist cleared the danger to Hamworthy's score line.

74 minutes and Richardson had to come off with a calf muscle pull. Taff was unhappy to come off but pleased that he'd found a muscle. On came Tyler Rutten.

A minute later Fisk was put free by Gajic. He was closed down in the box and before able to get a shot away went down with a tackle. The referee judged the tackle clean so we finished up with a dead ball kick.

We battled on. 92 minutes and Evans floated in a free kick. Up went Gajic and the ball whipped the net up. Celebrations were short lived as the linesman's flag gave an offside. Protests were fruitless. The game could have been ours had we taken the chances but the bottom line … we lost 0-1 and three points.

Result 0-1

Report submitted by Bernard Scott