WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 12TH MARCH 2016
ALRESFORD TOWN 2 VERWOOD TOWN 3

We had a couple missing, but still had a strong squad for this fixture. Ben Kelly stepped into a holding role in front of the back four and Tyler Rutten led the line allowing the sunburned Joe Wood time to recover on the bench.

Alresford's direct game had Donachy and Phelps combating aerial raids straight from the start. We dug in and from another high ball into our third Phelps won a header diverting the ball to Murray. Murray whipped the ball inside to Gajic and Gajic's ball wide to Atkinson had Alresford back -pedaling. Atkinson made ground and hit a good cross finding Gajic following in. A snap shot went wide. It was a good counter attack giving rise for optimism.

Alresford though has other ideas and wasted no time hitting back with long balls and runners. Kelly got under one missile and then the back four took it in turns to star gaze.

17 minutes gone and another launched projectile found the left flank open. Donachy had spotted the danger and raced across to make a crucial tackle on the edge of the box winning the ball and clearing to safety.

Then came a dreary period with both teams hoofing the ball into space rather than play along the deck. Alresford were better at this tactic than we were and a couple of dangerous breaks brought the best out of Stroud and full backs Evans and Murray. Gajic cottoned on to a Murray line ball and cutting inside made ground to the edge of Alresford's box. A wide ball to Atkinson gave space for a cross but Alresford's keeper took a great catch under pressure.

It became boring. A couple of scrapes at both ends but as far as football quality was concerned this was dreadful.

A good move between Evans Atkinson and Gajic freed Rutten for a run on goal but Alresfords' cover was tight and Rutten was robbed on the edge of the area.

We had a flurry of activity with the ball gathering mud instead of air and a sparkling bit of Alresford inter-passing opened up our mid field. A run on goal looked a certain home goal but a sliced shot went high and wide.

A minute left of the half and clumsy defending on our part let in another runner. This time the shot hit the back stanchion.

Just before the whistle Fisk delivered a great cross after winning a race down the flank but Rutten was blocked from his run into the area and Alresford cleared their lines.

Half Time 0-0

A couple of changes to our line up for the second half saw Joe Wood come on for Zacc Phelps and Russell Dyer come on for James Murray.

Ben Kelly dropped into the back four and Max Brimson took over the left back spot.

We were still settling when Alresford dropped a ball into our box and again we had clumsy defending allowing a shot to rifle into the net. 0-1.

Unbelievably we hadn't learned our lesson and a vibrant Alresford pushed us back.

55 minutes and they got what they deserved, a second goal. A well worked ball thought he middle split us open and a good finish made it 0-2.

58 minutes and a retaliatory attack saw Alresford give away a penalty. Up stepped Rutten and the ball was in the net. 1-2.

Suddenly we had a bit of adrenalin running through veins instead of a sleeping draught. Both teams upped their game. Spectators woke up. Tackling became stronger and a series of fouls from both sides kept the Ref's saliva topped up.

62 minutes and Jordan Fisk made way for Andy Masson.

Atkinson then won a tackle on the half way line and sped away from his marker. A terrific run put him just inside the box and a low ball was palmed out by the keeper. In swept Joe Wood to plant the ball on to the nearest space shuttle.

Tackles got more robust and Evans went flying in to one tackle and went flying off the pitch clutching a red card. Down to ten men .. Brimson was walking a fine line after a yellow so we had to add a bit of caution otherwise we would have lost both full backs and down to nine men.

Then came a break. Masson's cross found Wood and Wood found the back of the net 2-2.

Atkinson was having the game of his life. Dropping in to right back Atkinson still found pace and desire to overlap. One run with 6 minutes to go had Atkinson crossing from the bye line. Rutten followed in but agonized as his shot beat the keeper but kicked off the line by the full back.

Then came a spell of Alresford pressure with some great attacking play along the deck. The long ball had been banished for a while and some of the football during this spell was top notch.

We survived the spell with a determination and character deserving something from the game.

85 minutes had Wood and Gajic forcing their way through for Wood to test the keeper. Good hands stopped the ball crossing the line.

A minute later though a well worked move into the box and Gajic rounded off his afternoon with a right foot slide rule shot past the keeper to make it 3-2.

The game finished with well earned 3 points.

Result 3-2