PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
MONDAY 25TH JULY 2016
HAMWORTHY RECREATION 2 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Team and Bench - Tom Jackson .. Zacc Phelps .. James Murray .. Ben Kelly .. Chas Gajic .. Russell Dyer .. Brad Goddard .. Ryan Kelly .. Matt Head .. Pepe Smith .. Ethan Maddocks .. Dean Evans .. Matt Gilham .. Alex Eaton .. Chris Lynch

Although a warm night, the game opened up with good pace and it was Hamworthy making the running with a strong move down their right but was cut out near the corner flag by Murray.

Dyer won the ball in midfield to spark an attack and a sweeping high ball to Smith gave space for Smith to hammer a cross along the edge of the box. Head tried a shot but defenders got in the way.

Back came Hamworthy with a good move down their left Phelps closed the runner and whipped the ball off toes. A pass inside to Ben Kelly gave us a retaliation spell finishing with Head and Dyer working the ball forward for Head to deliver a shot past the post.

Pepe Smith was coming into the game more as we increased possession. A break created space. Smith’s shot hit the angle of bar and post denying us a 1-0 lead.

Ryan Kelly took a great line ball from Murray and slipped the ball to Bergin. Bergin split the defence with a through ball for Smith to cut inside the area. Smith’s run ended abruptly by a sliding tackle. Penalty. Up stepped Ryan Kelly to bury the ball past the keeper. 1-0.

28 minutes and only two minutes after going ahead a Murray chip to Smith cleared Smith’s marker. Smith saw Ryan Kelly free and a pass inside the backs gave Kelly space. The keeper was equal to the task though and raced out from goal to pinch the ball off toes.

10 minutes left and we saw some good pressure play from Hamworthy. A couple of breaks were handled well by Gajic and Phelps but nothing could stop the 40th minute equalizer. An attack spearheaded by Goddard was swept up in Hamworthy’s defence and a long clearance caught us at sixes and sevens at the back. An angled shot whipped past Jackson to make it 1-1 at half time.

Half Time 1-1

Chris Lynch came on for Tom Jackson at the start of the second half.

Hamworthy’s start was quicker than ours. Good passing and movement progressed into our third and a cross shot went wide of the post.

We hit back forcing a corner. Ben Kelly got in the mix and won the header but put it into the side netting.

A couple of minutes later Goddard chipped his marker and Ryan Kelly followed in to head the ball across the area. Pepe Smith powered in and hit a blaster but Hamworthy’s defence was solid on the line and hoofed it away from danger.

53 minutes and Hamworthy’s movement carved out an opening in the middle of the park the ball finished up in the back of the net from a half volley. 1-2.

Ryan Kelly went wide a minute later to cross into the penalty area. Matt Head slid in but put the ball wide.

Bergin and Goddard combined to put pressure on the right back but a good tackle stopped movement.

61 minutes Ben Kelly came off to give Dean Evans a run.

Then we had a long spell of Hamworthy possession as we tended to ease off. Lynch had to make several saves as Hamworthy punctured our defence.

Phelps and Murray’s tackling at this point was crucial, to keeping the flanks closed down. Gajic and Evans had their work cut out but did a great job in blocking several shots from the edge of the area.

Phelps took the sting out of one attack with a strong header finding Ryan Kelly. Kelly put the ball out to Smith and the resultant cross was put over the bar by Head.

Dyer’s corners should have been converted as we forced attacks. Ben Kelly put one over the bar and Smith smashed a shot into the side netting. Goddard too had a good header cleared wide.

Dyer made way for Maddocks on 64 minutes and before settling Hamworthy broke to give Lynch a chance to show his quality with a brilliant take at feet.

75 minutes James Bergin came off for Alex Eaton.

We enjoyed possession and Smith’s corner was headed in from Matt Head but legs deflected the ball wide.

We pushed on and with 10 minutes remaining Ryan Kelly was dropped in the box. Penalty. Kelly stepped up to score his second of the game. 2-2.

81 minutes and Goddard made way for Gilham. Gilham slotted in one for one and was soon employed opening up space for Alex Eaton to deliver a cross shot that inched past the foot of the post

We finished strongly earning a draw.

Result 2-2