PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
THURSDAY 28TH JULY 2016
CHRISTCHURCH 4 VERWOOD TOWN 3

Treading the turf ….

Tom Jackson … Matt Gilham … James Bergin … Martin Smith …Ben Kelly … Dominic Panesar-Dowie …James Guthrie … Carl Foster … Matt Head … Pepe Smith

Warming the bench

Ethan Maddocks … Pat Barnes …Alex Eaton … Kris Anderton

An attack through the centre of the park was intercepted by Kelly. A cross found Panesar-Dowie (hereinafter Dom, to save printing ink and space), good feet rounded a defender and a chip gave space for Guthrie to head for goal. Christchurch closed ranks, Guthrie slid through two tackles but robbed by a third.

Despite changes to formation and new faces unknown to each other before the game we seemed to settle quickly.

5 minutes and we grabbed possession in mid field. Back to Bergin in the unusual slot for him at left back. A line ball triggered Pepe Smith down the left to put us back on the attack. Smith jinked his way past a defender on the edge of the box but his right foot shot went wide of the post.

Christchurch, stung into action strung a good move together stemming from the middle of the park and out wide. Gilham was in quickly to stop the cross.

7 minutes gone and Head won a tussle in the middle releasing Pepe Smith on the left. Smith cut inside and a switch ball found Foster in space. Foster’s shot went straight down the keeper’s throat.

We over relaxed with 25 minutes gone and a break on the Christchurch right split us open. A low cross onto the edge of the box was swept home by an unmarked player. 0-1.

31 minutes and Carl Foster’s hamstring caused sufficient concern to lead to a substitution. On came Ethan Maddocks.

Christchurch’s determination in maintaining the lead was underlined by a resolute defence but with 3 minutes left of the half, Bergin slipped the ball to Pepe Smith who opened up an opportunity for Guthrie to try his luck. The shot went just wide.

2 minutes left and Maddocks almost had the ball in the net from a terrific volley on the edge of the box. An equally terrific save from the keeper sent Christchurch in at half time holding the lead.

Half Time 0-1.

The sound of the whistle was still in the air when we gave the ball away from the kick off and a grateful Christchurch tapped the ball past a stranded Jackson 0-2.

We were still re grouping when a high ball dropped into the penalty box and the ref’s judgement gave Christchurch a penalty. 0-3.

No heads dropped and although Christchurch had the edge in possession at this stage we strung some good football together notably from Dom (now abbreviated) Guthrie and Pepe Smith. A glorious chance was inched past the post by Guthrie’s right foot and Pepe Smith’s blaster went over the bar.

Kelly had to muster his troops and excellent defending and chat tightened the defence.

Bergin was a revelation at left back and was getting used to the defensive duties demanded to control a good flank player.

58 minutes saw us pull back the score line to 1-3 when Dom followed in a good break and slammed the ball low into the bottom corner.

60 minutes Goddard made way for Eaton. Gavin Reeves re shuffled positions leaving Eaton to patrol the right hand side.

Possession was shared for a while but Christchurch split us wide open on 79 minutes leaving a clear shot on goal. Jackson did the business with a fine save.

Dom and Guthrie linked up to test the keeper but the test wasn’t enough to beat the back stop.

Eaton gave hope of reducing arrears with a good break and shot but again the keeper had it covered.

Then, with 82 minutes on the clock we got a reward for persistence when Guthrie chased down a ball in the back and won a strong tackle. The keeper advanced but this time Guthrie put the ball in the back of the net 2-3.

3 minutes later Guthrie doubled his tally with another fine effort. 3-3.

We pushed on. Head wide to Eaton a good cross and an equally good clearance. This time though Christchurch collected the high ball and despite a massive call for offside the ball was despatched past Jackson with a minute left of the game. Christchurch won the match with both team managers happy with the run out.

Result 3-4

Next week we start the season on Wednesday night at Potterne with a home fixture against Portland. On Saturday the 6th August we face Hengrove Athletic in the F A Cup at Hengrove.