WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 6TH FEBRUARY 2016
FOLLAND SPORTS 3 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Heavy rain had preceded the fixture and a lot more plus strong winds expected during the game.

The pitch was in remarkably good condition. A greasy top but very playable.

A couple of changes took place in the starting line up. Donachy and Swann were injured whilst Atkinson and Murray were away getting sunstroke. Joe Kimber was unable to make kick off. A boost though was Martin Smith returning to the Club and taking up a slot on the bench.

The first 5 minutes was a ‘bedding in’ process. A swirling wind and slippy surface needed time to adapt. We settled first and Fisk went goal bound with a run down the right. A cross was a bit too close to the keeper to cause trouble.

2 minutes later Fisk again broke through and this time his cross was deflected for a corner. A scramble in the box and a Follands boot put the ball back in our half.

Dyer and Galjic making up our central pairing got on top. Dyer’s ball freed Goddard and Goddard’s shot just outside the box took a deflection and broke for a Wood shot. Only a couple of inches separated the ball and the net.

Gajic won a tackle in the middle of the park and a square ball to Dyer opened up space. Dyer slipped a through ball to Wood. Wood rolled the ball into Fisk’s path and a volley on target was kept out of the net by the keeper’s knees.

Brimson cut out a cross from his flank and Kelly headed clear a long punt into our area. We were having the edge in possession but Follands upped their energy levels to curb our attacks.

On 25 minutes we carved out an opening on the right and Fisk slipped his marker to get in the box. A sliding tackle took his legs and the ref had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Up stepped Rutten … 1-0.

34 minutes and a free kick for Follnds floated in our box for a header to test Stroud. Stroud’s anticipation and handling was first class and he caught the ball on the line.

We pushed up. Phelps and Kelly were capable guardians at the back.

43 minutes a brilliant Dyer ball sent Wood free. Wood made ground rounded a defender and slipped the ball past an advancing keeper. 2-0.

Half Time 2-0

We looked half asleep at the whistle. Follands on the contrary looked as if they had been fired up and launched an attack splitting us wide open. A shot from the edge of the box swerved over the bar. It was a warning sign and one we needed to heed.

We were kept pegged at the back. We lacked the drive of the first half and tackles were not being made giving Follands more and more confidence as the game wore on.

Our passing ability had deserted us. We made more accurate passes to Follands players than to ours.

The rain became heavy and the wind increased in strength.

53 minutes gone and a three man Follands move finished 10 yards off the goal line. Luckily the shot went high and wide.

There was no doubt that Follands had mastered the weather conditions better than we had. They were eager and tried hard to rectify any mistakes made. We watched and admired.

Then came the inevitable. We gave the ball away again 25 yards out. The shot left Stroud grasping thin air. 2-1.

We were rocking and couldn’t get our shape back. 2 minutes later it was 2-2 as Follands hit a long high ball that landed in space and without a Verwood attendance a runner went free and tucked the ball past Stroud to level scores.

68 minutes we gave away a penalty. Stroud went left to palm the ball away for a corner. Phelps headed off the line and Kelly followed up to put his foot through the ball to give some breathing space.

We had gone to pieces. Passes never found our players, Follands thought it was Christmas all over again.

With 15 minutes to go Martin Smith came on for Brad Goddard. The game continued with just a few spasmodic attacks strung together. Wood and Gajic worked space on the left but Wood’s final shot went over the angle.

Follands’ tails were up. Good moves on both flanks threated to overwhelm us. It was sometimes desperation in clearing danger. 5 minutes to go and abysmal cover let a ball through. Six bodies tried to block the ball from the line. A Follands toe defied logic and the ball trickled into the net to give an ecstatic home side the lead. 2-3.

We suddenly remembered what to do with the ball but only had two minutes left. Rutten shot wide and then Wood connected with an Evans cross but from 6 yards agonized as it clipped the bar.

The whistle went on a terrible second half that showed a soft underbelly and an approaching torrid period if we don’t pick ourselves up from this debacle.

Result 2-3.