PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
SATURDAY 18TH JULY 2015
VERWOOD TOWN 3 WIMBORNE TOWN 0

Another strong squad faced us as Wimborne trooped onto the pitch. Equally we only had a couple of missing from Tuesday night's numbers so felt we could give out neighbours a good game.

Wimborne's opening spell meant a defending period for our back four.

Brimson cut out a line ball and then Kelly blocked a through ball to prevent a direct run on goal. All this with only a couple of minutes on the clock !!

5 minutes gone and we gained possession with a typical strong Gajic challenge. A crossfield ball found Fisk. Cutting inside, instead of a run down the line, it created space for Evans to overlap. A good pass and Evans was free to deliver a cross into the box. Good goalkeeping meant possession was back with Wimborne.

Excellent handling by Lynch prevented a ball sneaking in on the near post and continued pressure from an attacking mid field had Kelly and Donachy at full stretch.

Swann and Fisk, benefitting from pre season and recent friendlies combined well to break open Wimborne's left flank. Swann finished the move with a terrific cross that Groves met full on but fired into a defensive block. A scramble in the box followed with a very large Wimborne boot hoofing it clear.

It was a good open game and with 15 minutes gone Wimborne carved out an opening on their right. A run inside gave space for a shot and it took all Lynch's capabilities to finger tip the ball over the angle of post and bar.

The corner dipped on the spot but Donachy beat everyone to it and cleared high and wide.

25 minutes and we split Wimborne's right side of mid field with Buck going clear of a last ditch tackle. A shot was half blocked. The ball bounced free and Buck wasted no time in hammering it high into the roof of the net to put us ahead.

Stung, Wimborne strung an attack together working the ball from left to right. The finish was a shot from 20 yards but frustration was evident as it sailed over the bar.

Evans and Fisk worked the flank and ended with a low cross from the corner flag that cruelly fell short of Swann's boot.



The half finished with a 1-0 score line.

We had eight changes to make and it was decided to stagger them rather than hit a wholesale line up.

Wimborne had suffered a blow with 57 seconds of the first half remaining when frustration took hold on one of the players and a heavy handbag was flourished resulting in a red card.

Ten men then had lined up at the start of the second half and after 33 seconds hadn't really settled when Swann picked up a great through ball to slot it past the keeper. 2-0.

The ten man syndrome sometimes has an odd effect making it more difficult to break a team down. Today was an exception to the rule. We had an advantage and it started to show.

Gajic was enjoying a bit more freedom and with a Russell Dyer's simulation of Lazarus rising from his sick bed had a good period of control in the middle of the park. It was Dyer who carried the ball wide after 12 minutes and opened up Wimborne's right hand side with a great through pass allowing Gajic a shot on goal. Although on target the ball fell nicely into the keepers hands.

Rutten and Wood linked up on the left and Wood's final ball gave Atkinson a sight of goal. A dipping shot went wide.

Rutten's industry was a key to blocking a previous gap on the right. Closing down defender's had a great effect and we pushed on.

Gajic went close again and then Banfield went clear but half hit his volley and watched it drift wide.

We almost got caught pushing too far up field but McGilchrist was quick enough to cut out a central run on goal.

75 minutes and Wood was denied a clear shot from just inside the area as a sliding tackle took the ball cleanly off his toes.

The keeper did well to palm away a Gajic 'dipper' and followed up with a tremendous flick over the bar from a dyer long range shot.

81 minutes and we maintained pressure. Harding won a header diverting it to Mills. Mills went down the left and slipped the ball to Rutten. This time Rutten drifted into the area, rounded the keeper and slid the ball into the bottom corner of the net. 3-0.

Wimborne almost had a goal back with a minute left but a very safe Lynch took the ball cleanly from under the bar.

Result 3-0