WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
TUESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2015
MONEYFIELDS 2 VERWOOD TOWN 0

Absences meant a couple of changes to formation and only two on the bench. Heavy traffic delayed most getting to Moneyfields so it meant a rapid change and a limited warm up.

Slick passing in the Moneyfields ranks put them in possession and a good move down their left fortunately came to an abrupt halt when Evans timed a tackle to perfection to take the ball away to safety.

Both teams were committed to attack so spectators enjoyed a good open game. Defences were tight with keepers very much alert for any breaches.

Whelan had the ball in the net from a Richardson through ball but the linesman's flag put paid to an thoughts of celebrations.

The free kick landed in our box. Donachy was first to get a foot in and a flick it to Brimson. Brimson made ground and whipped a cross onto the Moneyfields penalty spot. Whelan had followed up to blast the ball for goal. A terrific block by the centre half deflected the ball wide of the area to put Moneyfields on the counter.

Buck and Richardson worked the flank for Buck to go free and try a cross shot. The keeper made a good save low to his left.

Our central pairing of Kelly and Donachy remained firm under several high balls into the box and with Evans and Buck enjoying themselves we looked quite solid.

27 minutes and a break on Moneyfields right finished with a fierce shot arrowing in on goal. Collins made a good save palming the ball high out of the box. Back it came from a volley and again Collins was acrobatic in turning it round the post. The corner drifted in but Donachy was first up to head clear.

Brimson and Dyer exchanged passes on the left and a Brimson 'grubber' nicked the post but went wide.

Dyer then had a shot blocked followed by Fisk volleying overt the bar.

The game was fast but passing quality became frayed and both teams suffered from stop start moves.

We had a good 10 minutes to the end of the half with Buck shooting past the post and Whelan sending in a blaster from the edge of the area that could have finished up in the net had it been a couple of inches lower.

Half Time 0-0.

Brimson tracked back to cover with only a couple of minutes on the clock. Dyer joined in the defensive work and between the two of them broke free. Brimson hugged the line then switched as Dyer went left. Brimson's return ball gave space for a shot and Dyer's face read disappointment as the ball went over the angle of bar and post.

55 minutes and Richardson made way for Gajic. Gajic, slotted in to midfield and was soon in the thick of it as both sides battled for possession.

10 minutes later Brimson came off for Murray.

Carl Poore's substitutions were early but with niggling injuries to both Richardson and Brimson it was felt necessary to utilise the squad to its best advantage. Luckily both Gajic and Murray were able to slot in without disruption to formation so the game see sawed again as attacking flair continued.

Murray sparked a great piece of football on the left giving space for Whelan to have a crack from the edge of the area. It was about the thickness of a coat of varnish separating the ball from hitting the cross bar.v Collins made a good catch from a deep cross and then was out quickly to boot a ball clear from an 'Up n Under'.

Gqjic dropped in alongside Kelly and Donachy as Moneyfields pressure gained momentum. Gajic made a clearance from toes and then Kelly headed clear from another flank cross. We had slackened off marking tight on the flanks and Moneyfields used it to advantage..v 75 minutes and a cross cum shot from between the corner of the area and the touch line dipped over Collins, clipped the inside of the post and finished in the back of the net 0-1.

Carl Poore's instructions to push up almost paid dividends with a Fisk run and shot that the keeper just managed to scramble round the post. Whelan took the corner and on another occasion Donachy's downward header would have finished up in the back of the net. This time though the ball finished up in the side netting.

Whelan tried a shot that was blocked and then Gajic hit a volley into a crowd of players finally seeing his effort go for a corner. Again we get to the ball first but Kelly's header went wide.

Evans overlapped with 11 minutes left and finished the move driving the ball into a ruck of players in the 6 yard box. It was booted clear.

We lost concentration momentarily but it was enough for a sharp Moneyfields flank player to hone in on goal and beat Collins with a low drive into the bottom corner.

Result 0-2.