WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2015
WHITCHURCH UNITED 0 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Alan Lay turned Tinkerman for this away fixture. Lynch, Murray, Brimson and Mills were all missing, but back on the bench we welcomed Jack Swann after 4 weeks out with a hamstring pull. Bradley Goddard, back in the fold after two seasons, joined Jack on the bench.

A ball wide left was followed in and a low cross was cleared by Donachy. Only 30 seconds had elapsed from the kick off but gave a feel of the Whitchurch mood.

We worked the ball through Dyer Gajic and Rutten finishing with Wood rolling the ball back for a Rutten shot. It whistled wide.

The dead ball kick dropped into our third and up went heads. Kelly won the tussle sending the ball wide for Fisk. Fisk raced free and bent a shot wide of the keeper and into the roof of the net. 1-0.

Whitchurch hit back immediately with good football worked wide on their right. A clipped ball into the middle was inch perfect for a crack at goal but Tong was equal to the task and made a full length goal line save.

Dyer and Gajic had the edge in mid field but Whitchurch‘s use of the flanks was clinical in making breaks.

Half way through the half we strung a good move together breaking down Whitchurch resilience. Gajic Rutten and Fisk broke on the left and Fisk‘s cross was unfortunately topped by Wood and spinning wide of the upright.

Tong again had to make a goal line save as Whitchurch broke through the middle chasing a high ball and volleying from just outside the box.

We hit back straight away and a Fisk cross found Gajic. A switch of feet and Gajic delivered a great shot but the keeper was well placed and made a difficult save look easy.

The game went end to end with both areas busy. Donachy cleared a couple of dangerous high balls and Kelly took one off the line and worked it back down the middle. Gajic pressed on. The ball was switched wide for Atkinson to try a shot but although on target it was down the keepers throat.

Another spell of pressure from Whitchurch finished with the ball dropping into the top corner but Tong managed to finger tip it over the bar.

Evans cleared the corner sending us in at the whistle 1-0.

HALF TIME 1-0

We had the slope to contend with in the second half and up against a very determined Whitchurch set of forwards chasing everything they could.

McGilchrist and Evans had to be supported by Fisk and Atkinson in closing down runners on the flanks. A couple of breaks made it to the bye line but Kelly Donachy and Tong did well to quell the storm.

A golden opportunity presented itself for Whitchurch to draw level when a cross dropped over the back four and a runner went clear. A second touch was too much and allowed Tong to race out of goal and smother the ball.

Donachy‘s turned ankle forced change. Gajic replaced Donachy in the back four and Goddard dropped into mid field alongside Dyer.

Luckily we settled quickly. Evans did well to take the ball away from two attackers and whipped a line ball for Atkinson to follow up. Defenders closed ranks and Atkinson‘s route was blocked.

A hard working Whitchurch pushed up back. Goddard and Dyer sat for a while just outside our box helping to block Whitchurch from getting clear shots on goal.

McGilchrist broke up an attack on the left and a quick line ball gave space for Atkinson to make ground and rifle a shot from just outside the area. The keeper‘s positional senses couldn‘t be faulted.

Tong took a good catch from a hopeful shot outside the box and then Kelly headed clear as a barrage of crosses into the area threatened to breach our defence. We held out and then regained the edge on play with added effort all round.

Gajic coolly played out of danger a dangerous cross from the left and then Evans tracked back to force a dead ball.

Dyer presence in front of the back four had an excellent affect. Playing out of the back through Dyer proved successful as we mounted attacks. Rutten and Wood combined from one Dyer through ball but finished with Rutten firing wide.

On 77 minutes Fisk was treated to a breather and replaced by Swann.

80 minutes almost delivered a second for us s Wood broke through the shackles and hit a rising shot destined for the top corner. A brilliant fingertip save gave away a corner. Swann whipped a shot past front line defenders but a second line stood firm and cleared.

Whitchurch went for the leveller with some good attacking moves but again we held firm.

90 minutes gone and Whitchurch had pushed everyone forward. A Goddard clearance fell into Whitchurch third. Atkinson harried the defender and the ball spun free for Atkinson to go clear and beat the keeper low to his left. 2-0.

4 minutes of extra time saw more thrills and spills in both areas but the whistle went on a gutsy performance that earned a valuable 3 points.

Result 2-0