EMIRATES FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND REPLAY
WEDNESDAY 10TH AUGUST 2016
VERWOOD TOWN 3 HENGROVE ATHLETIC 1

3 minutes old and James Guthrie continued his scoring spell with a cracking shot from the edge of the box giving us a head start in this FA Cup replay. 1-0.

The move started from mid field with Goddard and Maddocks linking to organize a cross eventually landing at Guthrie's feet.

There was no hanging about with the Hengrove team. Stung into action and a couple of launches later Jackson had had to make a couple of good saves.

Our mid field spluttered. We tended to sit deeper as Hengrove pushed on. Ryan Kelly looked like the Lone Ranger and James Guthrie Tonto as the game meandered into our third.

Phelps and Smith were exceptional in tracking runners and re directing bombing raids.

Dyer at right back didn't taker too long to get back into rhythm after his sojourn in warmer climates. His experience stood us in good stead with a calm and controlling influence in controlling left flank runners. James Bergin equally was doing a good job on the other side holding a tight reign on a dangerous and influential forward.

Matt Head had a chance from a Dom pass but put the ball wide of the post.

We got back more possession with 20 min gone and forced a corner on the right. Kelly out jumped defenders but planted the ball into the keeper's hands.

Then a free kick for Hengrove drifted into our penalty box and the header looked almost on target to level scores but luckily grazed the post.

26 minutes and we got punished for a miscellany of errors in the box. A loose ball was hammered past a stranded Jackson. 1-1.

A minute later Jackson brought off a good diving save to prevent Hengrove going ahead. We were on the back foot with scrappy defending.

Martin Smith and Zac Phelps pulled things round and gradually we got back on top.

Ryan Kelly's unselfish running creating a couple of openings but the whistle went on a 1-1 score line.

Half Time 1-1

A double substitution at half time saw James Murray on for Brad Goddard and Pepe Smith on for Ethan Maddocks.

A shuffle of the pack and James Bergin took up the right flank position just in front of Russ Dyer.

Guthrie and Kelly were enjoying a bit of space and Guthrie went close a couple of times without reward. Pepe Smith used good feet to glide past a defender squaring the ball back to Matt Head. The keeper was in a good position to take the catch.

We pushed on. Dom Panesar-Dower now in a more comfortable mid field role slipped his marker and sent Bergin away on the right. Dyer went on an overlap and a good low cross dropped in the box. Guthrie and defenders went for the ball resulting in Guthrie being floored. Guthrie stepped up and planted the ball low into the bottom corner 2-1.

For some inexplicable reason we dropped pace and Hengrove sensed a chance to grab a goal back.

Again it was Smith and Phelps doing a great job keeping the crosses out of the area.

A switch in tactics saw Hengrove go for more flank play and both Murray and Dyer were stretched. What did get through was well policed by Jackson.

Pepe Smith went free half way through the half and cut the ball back from the bye line for Guthrie to hammer a shot on goal. The keeper did well to block the effort but scramble the ball. In swept Kelly but the keeper body blocked the shot. The ball was finally cleared up field.

84 minutes on the clock and we worked the ball down the right. Bergin drifted wide and passed inside. A return ball sent him into the area. A brisk low shot beat the keeper on the near post. 3-1.

No heads dropped in the Hengrove side and a couple of minutes later could have made it 3-2 when we got caught too far up the park and a high lob dropped on to the bar over an advancing Jackson.

Phelps cut out an attempted through ball with a minute left and on the whistle Martin Smith swept round the back to cut out a runner from having a shot.

We edged into the next round which where we will meet Fareham Town.

Result 3-1