DORSET SENIOR CUP - QUARTER-FINAL
WEDNESDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2015
VERWOOD TOWN 0 WEYMOUTH 2

Our line up :- Lynch Evans Brinson Dyer Donachy Phelps Atkinson Gajic Wood Kimber Rutten and on the bench Fisk Murray Goddard Swann.

We had no defensive plans for the game and attacked from the whistle. Evans, picking up a pass from Gajic, moved quickly down the right and chipped a ball over a defender for Atkinson to go clear. Atkinson’s cross found Gajic, but our skipper’s header went high and wide.

Weymouth strung a move across the mid field and from a lob into our box had runners bearing in on Lynch. Donachy intervened clearing the danger with a header into touch.

The throw went deep into our box and this time Phelps won the battle with a header wide right. Atkinson had dropped deep and collecting the ball made ground. Inside to Wood on to Rutten and we were on the edge of the Weymouth box. Wood rounded off the move with a half volley. The keeper spilled the ball but gathered at the second attempt.

It was a good opening spell but Weymouth’s stinging reaction was typical and a period of Weymouth possession followed with dangerous attacks from the flanks. Brimson and Evans had their work cut out containing lively players so for the spectators it was exceptionally entertaining.

Rutten hammered a shot into the side netting and then Wood again went close after running on to a Dyer through ball.

Weymouth, full of running kept us occupied defensively but we stuck to our pattern and made it difficult for Weymouth to penetrate too deeply. Anything that escaped was dealt with by a competent Lynch.

Half way through the half Brimson won a strong tackle and brought Atkinson into play with a low ball down the line. Dyer inked up play and swept the ball wide to Kimber. Kimber progressed and hit a low shot for goal. The keeper went down low to gather and then delivered a long punt. It almost caught us out but Phelps raced back to cut out the danger.

Gajic stopped a mid field attack and sprung a counter with a wide ball for Atkinson. Pace took Atkinson past the defender but the cross was too near the keeper and an opportunity was lost.

Weymouth finished the half with an attacking flurry but again we held firm and went in at half time level pegging.

Half Time 0-0

50 minutes and we lost a ball just outside the box. Weymouth capitalised and a runner broke free to slide the ball past an advancing Lynch 0-1. A lesson learned.

We were still sorting ourselves out when 3 minutes later Weymouth struck a killer blow. A good move down their right finished with a cross steered for goal from just on the edge of the box. Lynch made a tremendous save palming the ball up into the air. Two attackers lurked on the post with one benefitting from a dropping ball enabling a simple nod to make it 0-2.

There was an obvious settling of nerves in the Weymouth dug out having secured a good cushion.

We worked hard to negate a more rampant Weymouth and with Dyer and Gajic winning more of the mid field looked as if we could cut the deficit.

Wood shot over the bar from a Rutten ball and then Kimber blasted a volley just wide of the post.

We almost pulled one back with 66 minutes gone when Gajic took on a Dyer ball and freed Atkinson with a slide rule pass inside the back. The keeper raced from goal and Atkinson coolly lobbed him for goal. The ball hit the inside of the post and bounced back into the keeper’s arms. A let off for Weymouth.

It wasn’t a reflection on Atkinson’s unlucky effort that he was substituted with 71 minutes gone. On came Fisk. A double substitution had Swann swapping with Kimber as Alan Lay freshened up legs.

75 minutes saw Evans working the right. A good run finished with Evans delivering a great cross into the area. Gajic connected but his header fell nicely for the keeper to make a safe catch.

Murray came on for Wood with 9 minutes left. We pushed forward. Good defending stopped Swann delivering a goal and then the ball was turned off the line from a Dyer shot.

We had a period of mid field tussles with both defences holding tight preventing any further additions to the scoreboard.

Murray had a try to alter things in the last minute but we were still trying to find the ball when the whistle went for a 0-2 finish.

Result 0-2.