WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 30TH APRIL 2016
VERWOOD TOWN 1 LYMINGTON TOWN 0

The team today had a couple of changes but still looked a balanced side.

On the pitch …. Lynch Evans Murray Smith Donachy Phelps Glatzel Gajic Wood Atkinson Goddard
On the bench…. Dyer Guthrie Begley Davies Langton

Lymington was first to attack. A good central move was blocked by Smith. Smith picked off Goddard wide right and we sprung a counter. Goddard and Gajic worked the ball through mid field finally releasing Wood to try a shot. It had direction but lacked sting.

A long clearance went left. A deep cross and the ball bounced kindly for a half volley. Lynch wasn’t troubled.

The teams snuffed each other out in their respective last third as defence’s close marked opposite numbers.

Noticeably there was a dearth of shots. A hopeful long attempt from Lymington’s mid field dropped into Lynch’s hands and then a break on the left was fired across the box and headed clear by Phelps.

Lymington’s corner was collected by Donachy. A raking pass wide right found an overlapping Evans. A line ball gave Atkinson a run but a classic block tackle stopped progress.

It was a bit dour at times with both teams trying to break the deadlock.

Murray won a tackle on the left and switching the ball inside took a return from Smith. Murray went clear and delivered a great cross into the area. Wood won the header but put it wide.

Back came Lymington. Goddard tracked back assisting Gajic to contain the threat. Phelps then stepped in to tidy up after bodies clashed for the ball.

27 minutes and Goddard opened up a tight Lymington defence with a slide rule pass giving Atkinson a run on goal. Atkinson’s shot was on target but straight at the keeper.

Glatzel, prodding and probing, finally unlocked mid field and whipped a ball to Murray. Another good run and cross was policed by Lymingtons backs and cleared.

The half finished in mid field without a goal.

Half Time 0-0

Lymington started the half with a good passing move finishing with a shot well taken by Lynch.

We had to wait a few minutes for our first attacking venture and it was Gajic and Goddard creating space for Evans to go clear on the right. Evans cross was spot on for Wood but the header whilst on target went straight to the keeper.

55 minutes gone and Davies came on for Atkinson.

Smith won a battle in the middle and released Wood. Wood cut into the box and hit a low shot past the keeper. This time it was the inside of the post denying a score board change.

Lymington hit back down their right finishing a good move and winning a corner. An inswinger whistled over a packed area finding a Lymington head. On target and looping over Lynch it was diverted from danger by Gajic.

Neither side looked as if they had a key to unlock defences. Some accurate passing was good to see but generally no penetration.

A precocious Davies nutmeg gave Davies space and a low cross flew into the area. Goddard and Gajic raced in but the keeper was out quickly to safely take the catch.

65 minutes and a Lay double substitution. Tom Begley came on for James Murray and Sam Glatzel came off for Russell Dyer to make his bow.

Evans was finding a bit more room on the right and a link with Gajic gave space for a telling chip into the box. Davies stormed in but put his header just wide.

Lynch was tested as Lymington had a couple of long range efforts but safe hands kept the sheet clean.

Then a free kick for Lymington 25 yards out. The shot was low and on target. It skipped through the wall but Lynch had judged it to a nicety and saved low to his left.

73 minutes gone, Evans carried the ball out of our half and sent Davies away. Davies made ground and slipped the ball back to Evans. 30 yards out and Evans scored the goal of his aged career. A right foot rising shot had a very good keeper grasping air. 1-0.

4 minutes later Lymington almost had a cameo when a shot from the edge of the box ripped through a packed area to go inches wide.

Goddard and Davies went close before the whistle but couldn’t alter the score line.

Result 1-0