WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST 2015
VERWOOD TOWN 0 FAWLEY 1

Fawley flew from the traps. A quick delivery down their right from the kick off almost caught us napping but Fisk had tracked back quickly to block the cross. Fisk switched the ball inside to Gajic, back to Fisk and a ball wide right found Swann. Swann cut inside the area bringing a fine save from the keeper. All this within a minute of the whistle.

Brimson was on hand to stop a break on the left and then Evans on the other flank did well to cut out a run on goal. Fawley's shift of play kept us on our toes.

18 minutes gone and Swann pulled up sharp with a hamstring pull. Aaron Atkinson was called on to fill the missing gap up front.

Brimson was busy tracking a lively flank as Fawley pressed forward. They were enjoying a bit of freedom in the middle of the park and maximised it to send a flurry of passes for forward runners.

Kelly and Donachy were solid in the middle and with a strong Lynch at the back looked as if we could cope with attacks.

Worrying was the amount of free headers and loose balls donated to Fawley. Eagerness in the Fawley team nudged them ahead in the 'Want to Win stakes'.

Lynch made a tremendous save from a dipping shot and then had to scramble a ball off the line as a cross crept through our defence.

We hit back with a splendid Gajic Mills combination link up on the left finishing with a Mills cross that Wood glanced over the bar.

Fisk had a shot saved low on the near post and then Atkinson went wide of his marker to send a great cross into the box but again good keeper hands took the ball away from danger.

We went off the boil. Fawley didn't, so Kelly Donachy Brimson Evans and Lynch had to pull out the stops to block efforts destined for the net.

The middle of the park belonged to Fawley. Fisk Wood and Mills had to drop deeper to help out so we had to rely on counter attacks to make headway.

We struggled back into then game in the last few minutes and Fisk went close with a good shot but again an excellent keeper was alert and dropped on the ball before it could cross the line.

Half Time 0-0

We started the second half in a more determined mood. Evans overlapped on the right and a deep cross found Atkinson. A low shot on target was well read by the keeper and safe hands kept the score sheet 0-0.

51 minutes gone and Jack Mills came off for Russell Dyer to come on in mid field. Dyer was soon in the thick of it as Fawley's link up play moved through the middle. Some slick inter passing was halted by Gajic and Dyer. Dyer worked the ball down the flank winning a free kick as he took a strong tackle on the line.

Dyer's free kick was inch perfect landing on the penalty spot but Woods header went wide.

We were back in the game. Atkinson's pace took him wide of his marker and a low cross into the box was just too far from Groves' toes to be diverted.

72 minutes and a break on Fawley's left caused concern as it gave space in our box. Bodies blocked the proposed cross but a tackle to stop a shot was judged a foul resulting in a penalty. 0-1.

We rallied and Gajic hit a screamer beating the keeper for a change but slamming into the inside of the post and bouncing out. Atkinson followed in and a shot hit the bar.

Wood and Fisk broke the defensive stranglehold but Fisk's shot only yards out was scuffed making it an easy collection for the keeper.

Wood's intelligent use of the ball with 10 minutes left created another chance for Gajic and a low shot on target almost squirmed through but a boot cleared danger off the line.

A change of formation was decided and Max Brimson came off to give Tyler Rutten a run up front. 3 at the back and against a lively Fawley forward line was high risk but it was all or nothing.

Gajic broke through to hit another great shot only to see bodies block the effort. Wood tried a volley but the keeper took a clean catch.

It was end to end. Lynch made a finger tip save round the post and then Kelly headed clear from a left flank cross.

No nonsense Donachy hoofed a ball into the Fawley box and Groves cleverly flicked the ball round a defender to send Atkinson in on the corner of the area. A low cross was inches away from being slotted in by Wood.

We lost this one 0-1 mainly because we were second best for most of the game.

Result 0-1.