WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2015
HAMWORTHY UNITED 0 VERWOOD TOWN 1

For the first time in many weeks we had the same squad for two games running. The team and bench was exactly the same as that fielded against Weymouth in mid week.

The pitch was badly rutted so it was expected there would be a difficulty playing on the deck.

Hamworthy made the first break with a ball from mid field threaded through for a runner. Donachy and Phelps closed ranks winning the race and linking up finished with Phelps working the ball wide for Brimson. Brimson chipped the ball on for Atkinson. Atkinson crossed for Wood but the ball was headed clear.

Another long ball almost got through but Phelps stretched a leg diverting the ball on to Evans. Evans on to Rutten and we were back in the Hamworthy third. Rutten crossed and Wood this time won the heading dual but put it over the bar.

The game shuttled end to end. Lynch raced from goal to hoof a long ball back up field and then Phelps and Donachy made telling headers to keep the score sheet clean.

Brimson got adventurous and went on a mazy overlap. It finished with a pass inside for Dyer. Dyer took a couple of steps and hit a tremendous shot clipping the bar.

Then it was the Dyer show for a while as he worked his socks off containing any mid field Hamworthy progress.

Gajic Donachy and Evans worked the ball wide right with Evans dipping a cross for Wood to try a shot. The keeper did well to take a catch under the bar.

27 minutes of toing and froing and an Evans Rutten combination gave half a chance for Wood. That was all he needed to notch his 14th of the season. 1-0.

Hamworthy hit back. A swerving free kick was palmed over the bar by Lynch. In came the corner. Up went Brimson and the ball skidded wide for Atkinson. A run down the left and a cross was well read by the keeper taking a good catch whilst under pressure from Kimber.

It was Kimber a minute later that tried a 25 yarder only to see it fly just wide of the upright.

Half Time 1-0.

Hamworthy’s half time chat had immediate effect. Pace and energy levels had gone up a notch so it was Brimson and Evans who were over employed in the first few exchanges but not giving ground.

A lob into the penalty area was headed clear by Donachy and Phelps made a great block sliding across a shot from just inside the area.

A free kick with 12 minutes gone skimmed Lynch’s post and then Lynch went up high to punch a deep cross out of the box.

It was end to end with thrills and spills. Handbags flourished as both teams went for a goal. The refs yellow card looked as if it was made from litmus paper taking on an orange hue. It was none- the- less very visible as it waved in the strong wind.

Half way through the half Hamworthy cracked our back line on the edge of the box. It looked as if Lynch was on a one on one. Phelps though had other thoughts and made a brilliant sliding tackle in the 6 yard box taking the ball from toes.

74 minutes and Brimson’s involvement came to and end with a substitution. Murray took over the spot At the same time Joe Kimber made way for Jordan Fisk.

Murray was immediately in the thick of it as Hamworthy pushed on.

78 minutes, a long ball from Hamworthy’s backs dropped in our third. Evans raced back tracking a runner. The ball pitched up and hit Evans on the arm. The ref judged it as an infringement but unlucky Evans had received a yellow in the first half so … Red Card. Evans walked.

As Evans trudged off Alan Lay decided to give Joe Wood a break and give Jack Swann the sole forward spot.

A slight juggle of defensive positions and we went for it. Dyer continuing his dominating role and supported by a prompting, probing Gajic we had a couple of opportunities but Hamworthy were resolute and held tight.

We were pushed back. Donachy and Phelps worked like Trojans. Lynch proved unbreakable.

Shots went in from the edge of the area and one break that got inside the 6 yard box was luckily skied over the bar as Hamworthy tried to get something from the game.

Murray worked the left and Swann got behind the centre half to try and divert Murray’s cross past the keeper. The ball skimmed just wide of the post.

Fisk and Swann were proving a handful for defenders and because of the threat Hamworthy had to keep players back.

7 minutes of injury time came and went as we soldiered on. The whistle went and we collected three hard earned but well deserved points.

Result 1-0.