WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 9TH APRIL 2016
VERWOOD TOWN 2 COWES SPORTS 2

In the first minute Atkinson wriggled free of his marker on our right and made ground to the corner flag. A good hard low cross found Wood, back to Gajic and a placed shot just inside the upright was brilliantly tipped round the post by the keeper.

In came the corner but a determined Cowes defender powered a header out of the area.

It was a bright start and looked as if we could be in for another rousing display in line with our Horndean performance.

3 minutes and Brimson shadowed his opponent to the edge of the box before robbing the ball. A quick line ball to Atkinson put us back on the attack. Atkinson whipped in a good cross to Wood whose shot went across the face of goal without a toe in sight.

Then deterioration set in. The ball hardly touched the deck for a few minutes as both sides opted to go route half of one !!! Route one would have at least found players. This route was abysmal. Both sides were at fault during a boring period. It needed someone to put a foot on it.

Cowes emerged from the poor routine before we did. Passing was more accurate and they got to the ball faster than we did. We dropped deeper. Swann and Wood were alone. They looked like Pork Pies at a Jewish Wedding. A new formation in our ranks … 9 in the box and two up front !!

Phelps and Donachy starred during a torrid spell. Kelly tucked in with a couple of clearances out of the box and Lynch pulled off a couple of great saves as Cowes looked for a goal.

Our attacks were spasmodic. Clearances hopefully intended for front runners went straight to Cowes defenders. It was dire.

Then, we won a corner. Donachy joined the scrum and although winning the header was disappointed to see it go wide.

35 minutes gone and then the inevitable.

Cowes created a good move down their left and a cross found an unmarked player in the box. A good header hit the cross bar and bounced high. Murray back headed but the ball landed nicely for a shot and our visitors went in front , 0-1.

Cowes should have had a second but Lynch and then Phelps made goal line saves to send us in at half time 0-1 down.

Half Time 0-1.

A tactical review in the dressing room should have had a marked effect at the beginning of the second half. A whip round is needed to send the squad to Clarity for hearing tests.

We were hopeless. We had a couple of flourishes. Wood was sent through on 51 minutes to hit the keeper’s legs. Swann then got through but the keeper body blocked his effort.

We then brilliantly copied the TV advert for walking football. Cowes had more desire and at this time wanted the points more than we did. At least that was what it looked like. We were devoid of energy. Had we gone slower we would have been in reverse.

Swann made way for Guthrie with 54 minutes gone.

56 minutes and Cowes punished us with a simple bit of football opening us up on our right and a low shot beat Lynch on the near post. 0-2.

A change of formation pushed up our mid field. It created a pressure on Cowes defence and our passing abilities improved.

Guthrie was buzzing. A link with Gajic opened up space and a good run took defenders away from Atkinson. Guthrie spotted a gap and a through ball found Wood. Back to Guthrie, on to Atkinson and a shot went wide. It was a hopeful spell.

69 minutes Brimson came off for Smith as Alan Lay shuffled the pack. 6 minutes later Gajic made way for Goddard.

78 minutes we almost scored with a good move centre to wide right leaving Atkinson to cut the ball back from the bye line. Guthrie had followed in but his shot was blocked.

85 minutes, Phelps won a tussle and sent Atkinson through the middle. Atkinson this time made no mistake placing a cross shot into the bottom corner. 1-2.

We now had the edge on play. Kelly, Donachy and Phelps made a great barrier allowing Murray licence to push on. Murray floated a couple of balls into the Cowes box but good defending blocked a score board alteration.

Guthrie on 88 minutes worked his way into the box and was dropped, Penalty. Up stepped Dyer to hammer the ball into the bottom corner. 2-2.

We had 3 minutes of extra time. Both ends were employed but the whistle went on a 2-2 result.

Result 2-2.