WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WEDNESDAY 13TH APRIL 2016
VERWOOD TOWN 1 BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS 1

It was a lively start with Bemerton testing Lynch within the first minute. Tonight we didn’t sit back but counter attacked with some venom.

Dyer, Gajic and Swann moved the ball wide left and then Swann finished the move with a rasping shot beaten out by the keeper. A scramble in the box followed but finally the ball was cleared high out of the box relieving pressure.

7 minutes gone and Bemerton opened us up on the right. A good break finally produced a low cross but Phelps had read it well and cut out the danger. Phelps spotted Evans free and a chip over the mid field had Evans on the gallop. A good counter finished with a deep cross finding Swann. Swann’s delivery was on target but a the keeper made an excellent diving save.

Neither side lost time in moving the ball keeping both ends of the park busy. It was worth the entrance fee.

Lynch made a superb save from a left flank shot and then raced out to hoof the ball back to the half way line as Bemerton tried to open us up through the middle.

Donachy won an aerial battle and then Smith made a last ditch tackle to keep our visitors off the score sheet.

We had a close call with 24 minutes gone. A free kick wide left floated across the box with no one going for it. It drifted past the far post giving Lynch a dead ball kick.

31 minutes Jack Swann suffered an ankle injury and had to come off for James Guthrie.

Slack marking gave an opening for Bemerton and a fierce shot hit the post and bounced out. It was a wake up call.

Guthrie, Dyer and Murray linked play with Murray finally crossing into the Bemerton box. Heads went up. Wood won this one but saw his delivery go over the bar.

Back swept Bemerton and Lynch went high to thump the ball out of the area.

5 minutes to go, Evans raced clear down the right crossing into the six yard box. Wood raced in to plant the ball past the keeper and send us in at half time ahead.

Half Time 1-0

Bemerton’s half time chat affected pace and performance at the re start. Two quick attacks in succession had us defending in depth. Smith body blocked one and Phelps won a tussle in the area winning the ball and clearing high up field.

Defensively we looked solid but so did Bemerton. Atkinson rattled a post and bar then Wood was presented with a barrier of bodies as he tried to turn and shoot.

Bemerton bounced back and a swerving shot inched over the crossbar.

We responded through an Evans free kick. Donachy’s delicate flick was dropping just under the bar but the keeper superbly saved tipping the ball over the angle. In came the corner swinging in on the penalty spot. The keeper this time opted to make a good catch.

67 minutes we gave away a free kick 25 yards out. A bounce in the box was judged to a nicety and a diving header put our visitors level at 1-1.

Three minutes later we strung together a central attack with Gajic freeing Atkinson for a run on goal. The keeper won this one.

The game swung end to end for a while with both teams making every effort to score.

Wood Gajic and Guthrie worked the ball over the half way line. Atkinson collected a pass wide left and raced onto the edge of Bemerton’s box. A terrific shot hit the post and flew clear.

78 minutes and Flynn Begley came on for Wood. He was soon involved as we mounted another attack down the left. Murray connected with Dyer and Dyer’s superb ball split Bemerton’s defence for Flynn to go for goal. A full back and keeper combination prevented Flynn’s name getting on the score sheet.

Donachy and Phelps had a series of central attacks to deal with ably supported by an aggressive Smith.

Three minutes plus 5 minutes injury time had the need for Goddard to make an appearance so on he came for Guthrie.

Two minutes to go and both benches urging their respective teams to grab a winner. We almost won it when Goddard chipped a full back giving Atkinson a run on goal. Again a rising shot hit the post and bounced out.

It was good game for spectators. Both Managers felt they should have had the three points on offer but had to reluctantly settle for one point each.

Result 1-1.