WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST 2015
BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS 4 VERWOOD TOWN 1

A minute gone and a cross from the left landed in our six yard box. A header flew over the bar. It was a close call so early in the game and a reminder that we couldn’t rest on laurels.

Bemerton continued pressure. A break on the left took their attack to the edge of our area. Evans was quickly in to the tackle taking the ball and freeing Gajic for a shot on goal. Gajic effort was on target but too close to the keeper to put us ahead.

4 minutes and Fisk forced a corner. Mills floated the ball into the box and Bemerton heads were first up to head clear. Gajic followed up and fought off a tackle before releasing Dyer. Dyer's shot from 25 yards was on target but the keeper took his catch under the angle of the bar and post.

It was a good spell for us but Bemerton were always a threat with good football and an aggressive approach.

Harding headed clear a ball from the right and Donachy had to stretch a long leg to divert a shot away from goal.

We countered an attack through Brimson. A good tackle won him the ball and progress down the left finished with a great pass inside defenders giving Mills a sight of goal. A low shot was scrambled clear.

The game was direct with both sides pushing hard and a couple of close efforts were well handled by Lynch. Bemerton had the edge and looked sharp. Most attacks came from their flanks as the middle was well contested by Gajic Dyer and Mills.

20 minutes had elapsed when a well worked move from Bemerton sent the ball wide right. A low hard cross into the box found a runner on the far post and a volley past Lynch put BHH in front … 1-0.

Groves had a chance to level scores with a break but the keeper was out quickly to smother the shot.

30 minutes and a retaliatory attack from Bemerton took a player into our area. Lynch was out quickly to grab the ball but blocked a runner at the same time. The refs decision was a penalty and to give Lynch a red card.

Gajic donned the gloves and his gambling skills paid off with brilliant reading of the penalty. Diving low right he flicked the ball on to the post but agonised as it bounced out landing for a follow up shot into the net …. 0-2 and down to ten men.

Bemerton went for the kill. Our back four though held firm and with Gajic's superb goalkeeping capabilities we snuffed out a series of raids on goal going in at half time 0-2.

Half Time 0-2

No heads dropped and we approached the second half with a determination to give a good account of ourselves.

Mills drove a low shot wide and then took a free kick landing ideally for Groves to flick on but only down the keeper's throat.

We pressed on. Bemerton packed their defence relying for a while on counters. One counter tested Gajic but safe hands took a great catch.

Wood, leading the line forced his way through a couple of robust tackles and sent Fisk free on the right. A low cross into the box was blocked and cleared.

Wood was proving a handful for the Bemerton defence and suffered a couple of groundings stopping his progress.

Donachy did well to block a shot and decided to make a run through the middle. A chip found Wood and a great header under pressure was well taken by the keeper.

62 minutes and Fisk made way for Atkinson. Mills came off for Rutten.

We were still settling with the new changes when Bemerton forced their way down their right winning a corner as Brimson took the ball off toes. In came the corner and up went Gajic to make a good catch under pressure.

We stepped up energy levels and Dyer sparked an attack through midfield. A strong tackle won the ball and a slide rule pass found Atkinson. A cross reached Wood but the resultant header only found its way into the goalkeeper's gloves.

72 minutes and an Evans tackle in the middle of the park finished with a Bemerton player going down like a sack of proverbial. From the histrionics it looked like Nick O'Hara was required and not the Physio. The water used must have come from Lourdes. Up popped the player. The free kick went over the bar.

76 minutes and we won a free kick on the left. Dyer's inch perfect cross was glanced home by Donachy 1-2.

Tails up we went for an equaliser. Everyone worked their socks off. 81 minutes and we closed in on goal. A fierce tackle took out Wood but the player escaped the dreaded card. The free kick was cleared high and wide. We got caught at the back and a runner clipped the ball into the net. 1-3.

It should have knocked the stuffing from us but we rallied again and Rutten went clear but volleyed over the bar.

86 minutes and Head came on for Groves. Head introduced himself with a great pass wide for Atkinson but again we saw a shot go wide.

93 minutes a break and a clinical finish gave a 1-4 score line. We look forward to our next game with them and will hopefully keep 11 on the park.

Result 1-4