WYVERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (WEST)
SATURDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2016
VERWOOD TOWN RESERVES 0 HYTHE & DIBDEN RESERVES 3

On the pitch …

Ray Stroud … Dean Evans … Raffe Locke … George Thomas … Dan Ryan … Bradley Daughters … Jack Pitcher … Pat Barnes … Callum Curry … Matt McGilchrist …Joe Hawkins

On the bench

Damien Gill … Kris Anderton … Andy Hardiman

The referee had writer’s cramp just before the game authorizing new blood to play. The team had been ravaged with injuries and Arsenal. Checking later none of our team had made the Gunners line up.

Management team of Connor Jordan and Andy Hardiman had prepared well. The dressing room had a hubbub relaying a good team spirit.

H&D were first to attack and Dan Ryan playing Centre Half did well to cut out a shot from the edge of the box.

A couple of minutes later H&D again created space and moved the ball well down their left. Evans won the ball on the corner flag and a line ball to Pitcher put us back in the visitors third. Pitcher knocked a good ball to Curry and his touch and shot went just wide.

The quality was a bit ragged from both teams at this point but H&D seemed to be slightly better than us at keeping the ball.

Stroud made a cracking save from a deep cross and then had to race from his line to intercept a through ball as H&D upped their energy levels.

McGilchrist hit a rising volley on target half way through the half but the keeper palmed it over the bar. The corner dipped on the spot but a big boot cleared the danger.

31 minutes and a lapse in concentration was punished with a cross into the box and then swept in. 0-1.

We were pushed back as H&D mounted more pressure but survived the half to go in at half time one down.

Half Time 0-1.

A vote of encouragement was the message from the dressing room with the only change being Anderton coming in at centre half meaning a shuffle of Ryan moving to left back and Locke joining the bench for Bovril.

We hadn’t settled when a free kick from the edge of the box whipped past defenders and into the bottom corner 0-2. 48 minutes gone.

We then had a spell of good football from both teams. Passes were accurately strung together and we had close calls at both ends of the pitch as both teams pressed forward.

Thomas was instrumental in launching a clinical attack that took us through the mid field. Pitcher took on the mantle of provider for Curry to try his luck. The side netting stopped the ball.

Anderton and Daughters were tested for a period as H&D gained possession. Evans covered well and with Ryan more comfortable at left back we looked reasonably solid.

Stroud saved a couple of shots with legs but generally the defence did well to quell a very active forward line.

Barnes went close with a pile driver followed by another McGilchrist effort that clipped the bar.

Pitcher, Barnes and Hawkins carved out an opening but Curry’s hooked shot went wide of the upright.

65 minutes Pitcher made way for Gill.

Thomas and Barnes had the measure of their respective markers and with Hawkins and Ryan working the left flank we should have benefited from a couple of efforts created from our left.

We couldn’t put the ball in the net. Gill went close from a narrow angle but the keeper was well placed to take the ball low on the post.

H&D showed how it should be done though with 79 minutes gone. A high ball pumped in from their right fell to an unmarked player on the far post and a simple tap in made it 0-3.

We should have pulled one back within a minute of the re start with a blaster from Curry going inches over the angle of bar and post.

Stroud then had to produce a couple of saves as we pushed up leaving space for runners.

The final whistle went on a Hythe and Dibden win.

Result 0-3.

It was a gutsy performance from a side that had only come together on the day and gives rise for confidence in the management team and players to quickly reverse a similar score line.