WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER 2015
VERWOOD TOWN 3 WHITCHURCH UNITED 2

Within a minute of the whistle we had tested the visiting keeper and Whitchurch had hit the side netting. The frantic opening took time to subside as both teams went for an early lead.

5 minutes and a long line ball down Whitchurch left flank looked dangerous but Brimson rose to the occasion and a strong challenge won him the ball. Phelps was on hand to help engineer a counter attack, sending the ball wide to Fisk. Fisk tried to wriggle past the defender but was closely marked and bundled over for a free kick. Dyer floated the ball into the area for Wood but blanket cover blocked sight of goal and the ball was cleared up field.

Atkinson won a tackle on the half way line and jet heeled past a static defence. A one on one with the keeper ended with a great block save.

It wasn’t a pretty game to watch but with both teams giving a gritty performance it made good entertainment for the crowd.

Atkinson’s pace was a plus for our attacking play and half way through the half was dropped in the box. Shouts for a penalty echoed but the referee decided it was just a strong challenge and not a foul.

39 minutes and a long ball out of the Whitchurch defence made its way to Lynch. A runner chase down and Lynch coolly turned inside to send the runner the wrong way. Then, a Lynch stumble. The runner was still running !!!! A block on Lynch’s attempted clearance and the ball spun nicely for a left foot shot drilled into the bottom corner 0-1.

Whitchurch were still celebrating with high fives when we muscled our way into the box. Rutten dummied and the ball fell nicely for Fisk to place a shot past the keeper to make it 1-1.

Gajic rallied mid field and for a few minutes we had the edge on play until Whitchurch switched attacking options using quick feet up front in trying to catch us out.

Donachy and Phelps made a great pairing picking off runners and keeping shots to a minimum.

Dyer tracked back to stop a shot from the edge of our area and Wood suddenly appeared in the box to head a high ball clear. It was a good work ethic and continued until the whistle.

Half Time 1-1

The first attack from Whitchurch in the second half had the ball bobbing around in the area like a pin ball. A shin, a knee a scramble on the line and Lynch had to give way to a squirming ball making it’s way over the line. 1-2.

There was no high fives this time. Players shuffled back making a solid wall. Wood tried to break through but had to send a wide ball for Fisk to create some space and cross, Whitchurch dug deep and the ball was cleared.

Gajic and Dyer linked up to free Atkinson. The move finished with a Rutten effort clearing the bar.

60 minutes and we earned a penalty after good approach work. Fisk stepped up and hit a fierce shot low for the corner. The keeper guessed correctly making a low stop to his left palming the ball off the line. Atkinson had read it well and beat defenders to slot the ball into the net. 2-2.

2 minutes later Fisk played in Wood. Wood’s turn left his marker cold and a left foot shot kicked the net up to put us ahead. 3-2.

Whitchurch went route one to catch us as we pushed up. Phelps and Donachy took turns to track runners with Lynch always ready to race off the line to clear stray balls.

Murray and Brimson sat just off the mid field mopping up any stray line ball as we tried hard to keep the ball on the deck. A swirling bitter wind didn’t help but the game was enthralling and kept both dug outs maintaining a flurry of heart attacks.

67 minutes saw Lynch punch clear and then palm away a volley as the ball was whipped back in.

Pressure mounted and we had to contend with a series of attacks off the flanks. We held firm and gradually worked our way back into possession.

Atkinson cut through the centre of the park and switched the ball wide for Rutten to race in and slot the ball past the keeper. Celebrations were short lived as the linesman’s flag gave Rutten off side.

78 minutes gone and Rutten came off for Kimber. 84 minutes had Swann replacing Wood and our last substitution was made on 88 minutes with Goddard on for Dyer.

Three lots of fresh legs gave a lift to our game. We had 4 minutes of extra time and although we had a skirmish in our box, cleared by Phelps, we went close twice to making it 4-2 with Kimber and Swann denied goals by a good keeper..

Goddard had the ball on the edge of the Whitchurch box when the whistle went so couldn’t add to the score line.

Result 3-2