WYVERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 5TH MARCH 2016
VERWOOD TOWN RESERVES 4 LAVERSTOCK AND FORD RESERVES 3

Martin Gilham’s pre match talk reminded the squad of the last encounter with L&F when after a cut and thrust match we lost 3-5. There could be no laxity.

Captain George Thomas led the way winning a tackle in the middle of the park spraying ball wide to Wood. Wood on to Eaton, and then Eaton to Green. A good move but stopped because of the linesman’s off side flag.

The free kick floated high into our box and several heads went up. Kelly won the battle. Snow followed up and coolly made ground away from the area.

Laverstock’s attack down their left reached the angle of the box. Snow managed to get between the player and ball, shadowing the ball over the line.

Laverstock’s attacking flair continued and we almost went behind when a break on the left gave space for a cheeky lob over Stroud. The top of the net dipped so .. a lucky let off.

The game went end to end for a period and both flanks were busy. Cleft sparkled with good feet turning inside his marker for a shot across the keeper. The keeper did well to palm the ball away from the penalty box.

Goddard’s understanding with Thomas paid off with good interplay taking Goddard to the edge of the area. A right foot shot whipped past static defenders and finished up in the bottom corner. 1-0.

9 minutes later an excellent L&F move finished with a dipping shot over Stroud to draw level. 1-1.

Laverstock’s response was instant. Energy levels went up a peg and it took a fierce Gilham tackle to rob L&F of a run at goal.

Snow and Kelly dominated the central area. Murray found a bit of space to overlap and a great cross was almost turned in by Wood. We continued applying pressure and Thomas fired wide followed by a corner headed just over the bar by Thomas.

Eaton cut inside to chip a ball on to Green but Green was tightly marked and his effort was blocked.

Then came a golden spell. On 43 minutes Wood shook off the shackles and powered an unstoppable right footer into the top corner. 2-1.

46 minutes and a training ground free kick saw Thomas slide the ball wide to Cleft. Cleft slipped his marker and left the keeper stranded with an angled shot into the bottom corner. 3-1.

Half time 3-1

47 minutes. Wood to Cleft and a pile driver brilliantly saved by the keeper.

A resilient Laverstock team hit back. A move through midfield created an opening but the shot went into the side netting. There had been an offside claim but play had been waved on so it was a disappointed L&F to miss an opportunity to reduce arrears.

Green tracked back to help our defence as Laverstock increased pressure. Stroud took a high ball just under the bar and Gilham scissor kicked clear a looping cross intended for the penalty spot.

65 minutes and a limping Paul Green came off to be replaced by Matt Jones. Jones immediately was in the thick of it tracking attackers as Laverstock pushed us back.

Snow produced a diving header on the edge of the box clearing a dangerous break and then Kelly swept up at the back as L&F continued pressing.

Eaton had shuffled back to help and combining with Gilham made way out of the box. A good run down the line finished with a deep cross. The keeper came out and thumped the ball clear. A long ball found us thin at the back. A run down their right a hard low cross into the box and a volley hit bodies and finished up in the back of the net. 3-2.

74 minutes had Martin Gilham making a double change. Gill on for Goddard and Moore on for Cleft.

L&F’s response was to draw level !!! A slick piece of L&F football finished with a shot blocked by Stroud but the rebound fell nicely for a tap in 3-3. L&F’s tails were up. Gilham’s sliding tackle on the edge of the boxes was crucial as was Thomas’ high clearance off the penalty spot.

A minute later though Wood broke free to slip a ball across L&F’s box to Eaton. A curling right foot shot finished in the top corner of the net. 4-3.

We then had a few minutes of a Laverstock fight back. One shot went high and wide. Another one brought the best out of Stroud.

93 minutes, and a long ball from Kelly found Wood. A free run and the ball was in the net…..5-3 ?? … No … a dispute over an offside was upheld in L&F’s favour … back to 4-3. The free kick sailed high into our box. Snow nodded back and Stroud hammered the ball up field. Before it landed the whistle went for full time.

Result 4-3