EMIRATES FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND
TUESDAY 23RD AUGUST 2016
FAREHAM TOWN 4 VERWOOD TOWN 0

Both teams made a cautious start. Fareham tested Jackson in the early stages and Guthrie did the same at the other end.

Fareham’s movement out of the back was mixed with some good passing movements but interspersed with long high balls over mid field.

Martin Smith and Russ Dyer had a bit more of possession in the middle and Dyer’s through ball with 10 minutes gone released Guthrie for a pop at goal. Fareham’s backs closed quickly and Guthrie’s shot hit bodies and cleared.

Martin Smith took the ball off toes and slipped a pass to Dyer. Dyer made a few yards and hit a 25 yarder. The keeper did well taking a good catch.

Then Fareham worked the ball down our right gaining space for a cross. Ben Kelly went high above the rest to head clear.

It was even play with sporadic breaks.

Foster and Glatzel worked the right flank and Glatzel’s final ball found Eaton storming in. Eaton hit a low volley that was blocked in the box. Guthrie tried to find the net hitting the rebound but the keeper was well placed to use safe hands.

Phelp’s used his pace and good judgement to close down a break. Moving away from the area Phelp’s chipped a great ball to Martin Smith. A counter attack seemed on but Fareham’s midfield won this tussle and a chance of testing the keeper was lost.

15 minutes left and we lost discipline. A simple piece of attacking play caught us cold and the ball finished up in the back of the net. 0-1.

Bergin blocked a move down his flank seconds after the goal as Fareham spotted a lapse in concentration. Martin Smith and Russ Dyer dropped deeper and for a few minutes we had to defend in numbers.

Then after a brief attack featuring Glatzel and Foster a ball down Fareham’s left split us open. A scramble gave away a corner. In it came causing another scramble this time we failed to connect and suffered as ball was quickly despatched past Jackson. 0-2.

A couple of minutes left and a high ball caught us out. 0-3.

Half Time 0-3.

Could we put together a repeat performance as we did our last game ?? In short no.

We struggled to gain possession at the start of the half and seemed to have lost flair.

Eaton and Guthrie sparked life into performance with good movement down our right. Eaton finished off the move with a low crows into the box. Glatzel stormed in but fired wide.

Fareham hit back. A high ball was taken out of defence by Phelps. Kelly went wide to collect the pass. A line ball found Guthrie. Guthrie slipped his marker but shot just wide of the post. It was better movement.

Jackson took a high ball from a corner and then shortly after made a low save to his left as Fareham tried to influence the score line.

The game wasn’t one of the better ones to watch but Fareham’s lead was all important.

Fareham defended well and looked solid. In mid field we held our own but down the flanks we suffered from a few powder puff tackles. Kelly and Phelps dominated the middle on crosses.

We pushed on. Guthrie tried an angled shot and then Glatzel topped a shot giving the keeper an easy catch.

We got caught, pushing too far up leaving wide spaces at the back. A high ball looped over our defence and a runner simply went free to make it 0-4.

The drive we had at home earning the replay had deserted us. A few efforts were easily controlled by Fareham’s defence.

The game meandered without much to shout about.

The referee’s whistle brought an end to our hopes of progressing to the next round of the F A Cup.

Result 0-4.