WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2015
VERWOOD TOWN 2 BOURNEMOUTH ‘POPPIES‘ 2

Adam Tong took the gloves from Chris Lynch in this home fixture against Poppies. Captain Chas Gajic, just returned from another exotic holiday, gathered splinters on the bench alongside James Murray and Joe Kimber.

Wood forced his way through a couple of tackles and then unleashed a shot aimed for the top corner. The keeper stretched to finger tip over the bar. In came the corner for Kelly to head wide.

The dead ball kick wasn’t picked up and Poppies broke on the attack. Evans blocked the cross giving away a corner. It was a Poppies head that diverted the ball into the net giving the visitors a 0-1 lead with only 3 minutes gone.

Atkinson and Dyer linked up to attack down our left and Atkinson finished the move with a deep cross that evaded the predatory Wood.

We were gradually gaining the edge in possession with Goddard and Rutten winning the mid field battle.

Fisk went close with a shot across the keeper and then Wood drove a fierce effort wide of the upright.

Poppies response was to up their energy levels and we experienced an end to end few minutes as both teams tried to score.

Phelps and Kelly stood firm against an aerial bombardment and Tong had to be on top of his game to cope with the crosses. One cross almost sneaked through but Evans steered the ball away from the foot of the post giving away a corner. Brimson powered his way through a packed area to head clear.

With 39 minutes of frustration at near misses, Rutten finally broke the mould stabbing home a cross from Fisk. 1-1.

We still had the edge in possession despite an upsurge in Poppies tempo. Wood turned a header wide of the angle and then Fisk dummied his marker to have space for a shot that was scrambled off the line.

A high ball over our back four dropped into space between the edge of the box and the defence. Out raced Tong to hoof the ball away from danger.

A minute to go and a tumble in the box resulted in a penalty award. 1-2.

Half Time 1-2.

A stirring half time chat from Alan Lay had the desired effect and we pushed on from the start. Goddard had made way for Gajic so there was no need for a formation shuffle.

Gajic, Dyer and Wood worked the right flank to create an opening and Wood’s finally delivery was just too high for Fisk to reach.

Poppies hit back. Phelps superbly timed a tackle in the area to rob the ball and sent Atkinson away with an inch perfect pass. Atkinson made ground then bit the dirt as a sliding tackle took him and the ball over the line.

The throw dropped for Kelly to push on and Kelly’s left boot changed the attack from left to right. Evans had backed up Fisk and an interchange finished with Fisk firing a low cross into the penalty area. Wood caught it nicely but bodies had dropped back and got in the way of goal.

10 minutes into the half Brimson went down after collecting a kick on the inside of his shin bone. It was bad enough to warrant a James Murray substitution.

Gajic almost got on the score board with a tremendous header that was cleared off the line and then a couple of minutes later saw a dipping shot palmed over the bar. Kelly joined the crowd in the box and almost scored with a great header that was punched out.

Then we had a dour spell of football as passes went astray and no imaginative moves emerging from a static mid field.

25 minutes and Rutten lifted the game with a great second goal making it 2-2.

We pressed forward but with more discipline in defence holding positions. Mid field was ours with Gajic and Dyer in superb form. It was Dyer breaking out of the middle and firing a shot from the edge of Poppies box that almost gave us the lead but a flying save from the keeper palmed the ball past the post.

Wood’s header from the corner was on target but a packed goal line blocked his attempt.

Poppies almost caught us out when a long clearance from another Verwood attack was booted down the right and another high ball into the area was followed in by a runner. Tong however had read the danger and galloped off his line to punch clear.

Fisk had a shot cleared out of the penalty box and then Rutten brought out a fine save from the keeper before the whistle went on a 2-2 draw.

Result 2-2