WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WEDNESDAY 20TH APRIL 2016
SHOLING 3 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Jack Swann, Aaron Atkinson, Martin Smith & Ben Kelly missed this one because of work issues. The recent departures of Tyler Rutten, Max Brimson and Jordan Fisk meant a real thinning out of the squad but we still had a good presentation on the night.

Team … Lynch Evans Murray Dyer Donachy Phelps Goddard Gajic Wood Guthrie Begley F

Bench Begley T Langton Glatzel Davies

Evans worked the right flank with Goddard and finished the move with an inch perfect cross into the Sholing box. Wood beat everyone to the ball and although on target was disappointed to see the keeper save on the line.

Sholing hit back down their right. Murray tracked the runner forcing a throw in. Gajic won the ball slipping his marker and chipping mid field for Guthrie to try a run on goal. Guthrie’s ‘shadow’ edged him into the corner but Guthrie still managed to get the ball into the box. Begley tried a shot but hit defenders.

Sholing wasted no time at all. A slick piece of football took them to the edge of our area and Lynch managed to deflect the ball with his legs. The ball spun up and a diving header put Sholing ahead. 0-1.

It was a good end to end game and both sides committed to maintaining attacking styles rooting for goals.

Flynn Begley almost broke through into the box but was shuttled off the ball by a couple of defenders.

30 minutes gone and a break on Sholing’s right finished with a deep cross finding an unmarked head. Luckily the ball went high and wide.

We pressed forward. There was no intention to sit back and look for counter attacks. We wanted to carry the game.

Our reward came in the 43rd minute when Gajic Goddard and Dyer worked the ball across mid field and Dyer released Guthrie with a through ball. A shot was deflected out of the area. In swept Goddard and 20 yarder flew into the net despite the keeper getting a hand to it. 1-1.

We had a couple of minutes to the whistle in which Sholing tested Lynch with a drive but the half finished level pegging.

Half Time 1-1

Flynn Begley gathered a Gajic cross field pass but before making ground hit the deck from a strong tackle. Up stepped Dyer. His free kick connected with Donachy’s head. The keeper palmed it out for a corner.

In it came and half cleared. Gajic stormed in and took the ball to the edge of the box. A pass inside the backs and Wood slammed the ball for goal. Wrong side of the post !!

Sholing stung by having to defend so deep strung together a couple of good passing movements and always looked very dangerous on the break.

59 minutes and Flynn Begley came off to give brother Tom a run on the right.

Murray carried the ball out of the box from a Sholing attack and slipped the ball down the line for Guthrie to have a run. Goddard matched pace and tried a volley. Again a good keeper kept the ball tightly clasped.

25 minutes to go a bundle in our box resulted with the referee deciding it was worth a penalty to Sholing. There was no chance of Lynch saving this one as it was hammered into the bottom corner. 1-2.

Then, a double substitution as Sam Glatzel came on for Russel Dyer and Brad Goddard made way for Ollie Dasvies with 20 minutes left.

Davies’ impact was instant. A Gajic and Phelps combination finished with Phelps sending Davies away on the left. Good feet took him round one defender but the second defender realised Davies couldn’t make headway without his legs. Phelps took the free kick finding Wood but bodies stopped a clear shot and the ball eventually was booted up field.

Sholing rolled forward. Donachy stopped the attack and hit a long ball over mid field. Guthrie outstripped his marker and beat an advancing keeper with a well placed chip into the bottom corner. 2-2.

The game was earmarked for a grand stand finish and spectators were not disappointed.

Both ends of the pitch had close calls but on 79 minutes we only half cleared a ball in the box and Sholing benefitted from the half chance whipping the ball past Lynch to go ahead. 2-3.

It was a rousing finish. Evans overlapped in the last seconds delivering a ball for Wood to volley inches wide.

Result 2-3.