WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 24TH JANUARY 2015
FOLLAND SPORTS 3 VERWOOD TOWN 5

We were able to field the same tem as last week with the bench short of James Collins and Kris Anderton.

We kicked off. Gajic swung the ball wide right. Fisk raced past the defender, made his way to the edge of the box and unleashed a great shot that whipped up the net with only 42 seconds on the clock. 1-0.

Folland hit back immediately from the re start with a long ball wide left. Evans blocked the runner but the ball spun free for another runner to hit a rising shot at goal. Lynch took a clean catch and set up a counter attack with a ball wide left to Buck.

Buck's chip found Munday and a deep cross was cut out before Groves could get to it.

Straight back into our half and a 'topped' 25 yarder was easily gathered by Lynch.

It really was end to end stuff. 12 minutes gone and Gajic sparked a Verwood attack working the ball centrally to Fisk. Whelan joined in and tried to thread a ball past the centre backs for Munday. A long leg deflected the ball to the full back and a long ball put Folland back in our area. A volley was on target but Lynch had it covered.

We forced a corner. Whelan swung the ball onto the spot and Gajic went high to nod the ball for the top corner. The keeper's fingers sent it over the top. In it came again and this time Folland defenders were solid slamming the ball away from danger.

Whelan's free kick on 22 minutes whistled just wide and then Brimson tried a half volley as we gained possession but defenders made a solid wall preventing the keeper being troubled.

We weathered a spell of pressure and Lynch saved under the bar from yet another attack. A long ball into Folland third found Groves. A nod on brought a finger tip save from the keeper. The ball spun off on a sharp angle but Munday made no mistake arrowing the ball into the bottom corner. 2-0.

Evans made a break down the right releasing Groves. Groves slipped the ball past a defender for Brimson to break into the area. A melee followed with the ball finishing up in the bottom corner. Celebrations were short lived as the flag had gone up for Brimson straying offside.

46 minutes Fisk and Whelan went free and a dipping shot was deflected for a corner. Up stepped Whelan and a bullet cross was headed in by Groves. 3-0.

Half Time 3-0

2 minutes into the second half provided a good move from the home side. A cross into the box was followed up creating an area full of bodies. Donechy was the hero forcing the ball past a couple of Folland players and then swinging the ball wide for Fisk. Fisk went past his marker and delivered a cross for Whelan to fire just wide.

Gajic won a strong tackle and sent Munday away on the right. A cross found Groves and a volley was brilliantly taken by the home keeper.

52 minutes we got caught pushing up and this time a break on the right finished with a shot hitting the foot of the post. The ball bounced clear but fell nicely for a tap in 3-1.

Folland's spirit and determination had to be admired. We were on the end of intense pressure. Kelly and Donechy were over employed centrally while Buck and Evans needed every bit of skill they had to curb attacks.

Dan Munday joined in to defend and cleared a ball threaded through for a runner just outside the box.

We worked hard to get back in the game none more so than Gajic. It was a Gajic Whelan link that freed Fisk for a run down the right. Munday overlapped with Fisk following up centrally. Munday timed his cross to perfection while Fisk did the same on the follow up. The ball whistled past the keeper to make it 4-1.

Follamd, stung by the goal reacted as we expected and we were pegged back in our third as they mounted pressure. Lynch made a great save as a ball flew low for the corner of the net and then Buck hammered the ball away from the penalty area as Folland's pressure increased.

Whelan stopped a shot on the edge of the box and then Brimson's sliding tackle gave away a corner. Lynch went up high to thump the ball clear.v 78 minutes gone and we wilted. A high ball into the area was palmed away by Lynch, a half hit clearance fell for the home side to rifle the ball into the net 4-2. Game on.

81 minutes on the clock and a clearance from Donechy left Follands thin at the back. Fisk Whelan and Munday worked the ball through midfield. Fisk crossed and Buck, following up on the left hit a low ball past the keeper to make it 5-2.

There was no comfort zone. A Folland long ball into the box was caught on the volley and Lynch had to make a double save to stop the score board recording another.

91 minutes the referee put the whistle to his mouth, not for full time but to give another Folland goal. A nail biting finish but we prevented any more balls crossing the line.

Result 5-3.