WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2015
VERWOOD TOWN 1 FAREHAM TOWN 0

Gajic Kelly Buck and Brimson all missed this one so the squad was very different from the one last week against Alresford.

Team Lynch Evans Murray Donachy McGilchrist Richardson Dyer Whelan Fisk Groves Oldham …. Bench … Rutten Kimber Guthrie Gilham.

New signing Max Oldham was first to offer a threat to Fareham with a good run down the left and finishing with low cross that flew across the box with no one there to finish the job.

Richardson picked up in mid field and working the ball through the middle with Dyer sent Fisk away on the right. Fisk had chalk on his boots stretching the Fareham defence and a gap opened up to give Groves a chance for a shot on goal. The keeper took a good catch and a long ball put Fareham in our box. Lynch was out quickly to thump the ball away from danger.

With 15 minutes gone Richardson worked the flank with Fisk and Fisk whipped in a fierce shot that the keeper managed to scramble clear with a flailing leg.

We stayed on the attack facing a Fareham quick duo up front. Donachy and Evans had to keep a careful policing at the back but were able to give a bit of space to McGilchrist and Murray for them to support attacking runs.

Fareham gained more possession through the middle of the half and pressed us back. Dyer was splendid in his midfield holding role and keeping a tight positional discipline steadied the centre of the park.

Fareham's front two always looked dangerous but a 'No Nonsense' Donachy didn't let much escape.

We edged our way back into the game and Groves went close with a ground shot followed by a Fisk rocket that skimmed the foot of the post.

Fareham's keeper was in great form and blocked an Evans shot and then palmed out from the foot of the post a Whelan grubber.

Lynch was then active as we gave space for Fareham to exploit. A 20 yard dipping shot could have crept in had it not been for an attentive Lynch

Another break finished with a Fareham shot straight at Lynch and for the Verwood dug out it was a warning sign.

We weathered the last few minutes of the half going in with a 0-0 scoreline.

Half Time 0-0

Fareham's commitment to attack at the beginning of the second half was very evident as they pushed us back with some good football mainly down the left.

Evans and McGilchrist had their work cut out containing a lively flank but the odd cross that got through was well covered by Lynch.

We lost the ball in midfield. A quick break split us wide open, It resulted in a shot from the edge of the area being superbly taken by Lynch.

Whelan and Groves worked the ball through the middle with 20 minutes gone and Oldham hit a rasper of a drive only to see it go wide.

We stayed on the attack and on 71 minutes got a corner.. Donachy rose higher than defenders and the ball whipped into the top of the net. 1-0.

James Guthrie came off the bench to replace Max Oldham and was immediately in the game exchanging passes with Murray on the left. Guthrie slipped his marker and delivered a low ball into the penalty area, Groves connected but the ball hit the foot of the post and came out. Fisk followed in and hit a low drive for the bottom corner. A desperate lunge by the full back cleared the ball off the line.

Whelan then had a couple of shots but the keeper was in great form and it was obvious we needed something extra special to beat him.

We tailed off. Fareham seized their chance and urged on by their bench forced us to defend deep. Evans and Murray had a lot to do on the flanks as Fareham switched their attacking options. Donachy was a tower of strength ably supported by McGilchrist.

Luckily we had Lynch on form so we remained tight at the back.

In the last ten minutes of the game Richardson made a telling tackle on the edge of area to prevent a shot on goal and Dyer blocked a volley in the box after tracking back.

Fisk came off for Joe Kimber and Murray made way for Tyler Rutten.

It was all hands to the pumps as the game swung end to end to the final whistle. Maybe it was good for the spectators as they had had to endure scrappy periods but the benches were on tenterhooks.

The whistle blew on a 1-0 win and a very welcome three points.