WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2015
ALRESFORD TOWN 0 VERWOOD TOWN 1

A couple of the squad was missing for this fixture but we still had a strong contingent.

Lynch Evans Buck Brimson Donachy Gajic Dyer Whelan Fisk Groves Rutten .. on the pitch.. Collins Kimber Guthrie .. on the bench.

Alresford made the first break and with only a couple of minutes on the clock prised us open just outside the box. A good shot was finger tipped round the post by a very alert Lynch. The corner swung in and it was an Alresford's head first to it but to plant it wide.

It was a good opening spell for both teams and with intent for open football.

Fisk linked with Evans to break on the right and made ground to the bye line. A good low cross was diverted for a corner. Fisk took it himself and got another corner from a scramble in the box. Dyer swept in to try a shot. Another corner. This time Gajic joined in and won the header but only to see it go over the angle of bar and post,

Dyer and Gajic busied themselves in mid field ably supported with overlaps from Buck and Evans. It was from a tussle won by Dyer that Fisk was released on the right and a good run to the edge of the Alresford area finished with a shot that the keeper did brilliantly well to tip over the bar.

Donachy and Brimson proved themselves as a strong central pairing blocking some excellent moves from the home side as we got pushed back.

20 minutes gone and Whelan sprang an attack swinging the ball wide for Fisk to shake off close attention from the full back. A cut back to the edge of the box gave room for a Dyer rocket. Groves proved the best defender for Alresford getting in the way and diverting the shot for dead ball.

Back came Alresford. A high ball into the box and Donachy brushed aside a runner to head clear.

Gajic was bossing his patch and working the ball down the left flank freed Rutten for a run on goal. Cutting inside his marker Rutten unleashed a good shot but was disappointed to see the keeper make an excellent stop.

Fisk Whelan and Groves cut through the home side defence finishing with Groves planting a header just wide of the upright.

Half Time 0-0

We are notoriously slow starters. This game was different. Everyone was on their toes and a sparkling bit of Gajic dominance in the middle sprung an attack with Rutten leading the charge. Buck had seen an opportunity and creating space on the left took a line ball and fired a cross that was inches away from Whelan's toes and possibly being our first goal.

Brimson headed clear a dipping cross and then followed up with a great tackle on the edge of the box as Alresford got on top.

Lynch took a good catch under the bar and then made a flying save as shots started to flow from outside the area.

Dyer and Gajic got a grip again and we got back in attacking mode. Groves shot wide and then Fisk saw a rising shot flicked over the bar.

Half way through the half a great piece of football from Alresford almost split us open but a Donachy long leg robbed a player six yards from goal before a shot could be made. Donachy slipped the ball for Brimson to make ground. Evans collected the pass and went on a mazy run. Evans cut inside, Fisk went wide right and Evans found him with a well judged pass. Fisk hammered the ball across the box and Groves whipped in a shot that went wide.

We'd had chances to go ahead but the cutting edge was missing.

Gajic was instrumental in producing an attack that almost put us ahead. A ball inside the full back gave Fisk room for a cross. A half clearance fell to Whelan. A shot hit a defender and rebounded. Groves tried his luck but the keeper thumped it out. In came Gajic to hammer a low shot for the bottom corner but yet again the ball was well defended.

We won another couple of corners as the half progressed. Brimson went close and Donachy almost scored with a fierce header that went over the top.

61 minutes had elapsed when a tireless Gajic won a tackle in the middle of the park. Skipping a sliding tackle Gajic got 25 yards out before hitting a dipping shot that cleared the keeper and whipped into the roof of the net. 1-0.

Alresford, stung by the goal, retaliated with a move down the left. A switch inside and a long pass right. It was as though the ball was red hot as it got pinged around. It finished with a shot being hammered in from the edge of the box creating a scramble in the penalty area. The bodies cleared to show Lynch lying on the ball. A close call.

On came James Guthrie and Joe Kimber. Guthrie's pace and skill was a telling factor with a good piece of skill setting up an opportunity and Kimber steamed in to shoot just wide of the post.

Result 1-0