WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2016
WHITCHURCH UNITED 4 VERWOOD TOWN 3

Both teams languishing at the bottom end of the table meant the fixture had an bite as an indicator for the season ahead.

Whitchurch went with the slope and their first attack was wide right with a cross field ball. Ben Kelly was in quickly to give away a throw. Elsom won a header from the throw and sent the ball central to Warren. A good turn and a ball through to Gallagher and on to Ryan Kelly. Kelly took up the running sending Eaton away on the left. A good cross was intercepted and cleared.

We pressed forward. Evans took a line ball from Donachy and crossed to Ryan Kelly. A pass threaded through the backs left Smith to take on the full back. Good feet took him clear. The keeper came off his line narrowing the angle but still left space for the shot. Smith agonised as the ball skidded wide of the post.

A minute later and Dyer found space to free up Smith again. A screwed shot whistled wide.

Another minute elapsed and on 9 minutes Smith hit a fierce shot on target but this time the keeper blocked the shot with feet sending it clear.

Warren won a tussle in the middle of the park as Whitchurch re grouped. Warren’s square pass found Dyer and a good ball wide left sent Eaton on a run. A tackle on the bye line gave us a corner. Up went Kelly and Donachy. Donachy’s extra inches won the ball but the header went over the angle of bar and post. We just couldn’t put the ball in the net.

15 minutes and Whitchurch bounced back into the game with some good football winning a free kick just outside the area. It was like watching heading tennis. The ball finally fell nicely for a side foot past Fawcett to put Whitchurch ahead 0-1.

The game then deteriorated in terms of quality football as both teams looked frantic on the ball. Fawcett won a one on one dual with a runner when we got exposed pushing too far up. It was after 30 minutes that we got some composure back. Ben Kelly hit a superb ball to Eaton and cutting in Eaton blasted a shot for goal but defenders got in the way and a ball destined for Winchester eased the threat on the Whitchurch goal.

With four minutes left we won a corner on the right. Ryan Kelly stooped to flick a header into the penalty area. Donachy planted a header over the bar.

Half Time 0-1.

Ben Kelly and Ryan Kelly almost opened up our scoring within a minute of the start with a great piece of inter passing. Warren joined in and released Dyer. A shot hit bodies on the edge of the area. Out it came for Ryan Kelly to hammer a shot for goal but the result was damage to a few branches at the back of the goal.

It was a bright start and some good football but sadly we just couldn’t put the ball in the net.

On 49 minutes Smith collected a Ben Kelly line ball and cutting inside hit a low volley on target. The keeper made an excellent save palming the ball wide.

52 minutes Bergin came on for Gallagher and was soon in the mix. A good move between Bergin and Dyer finished with Dyer switching the ball wide for Elsom to surge through and try a shot from the edge of the box. Bodies blocked the route to goal and Bergin tried a half volley as the ball bounced around. A Whitchurch boot ended our attack.

56 minutes and we finally got a reward for the pressure on Whitchurch backs. Evans went wide and delivered a waist high cross. Bergin followed in and beat defenders to slide the ball past the keeper. 1-1.

Ryan Kelly was next to try a shot but put it just wide of the upright.

Then typical of our season we pushed up too far and on 63 minutes suffered when a high long ball down Whitchurch right looped over our central pairing and a runner went on to do what we couldn’t. Put the ball in the net. 1-2.

2 minutes later Smith was put through by Warren but his shot went straight at the keeper.

Despite warnings from the line we pushed up and lost discipline again at the back. A snap counter and a quick break had a two on two. Evans stormed in and a sliding tackle was judged a foul. The free kick floated into the box. A couple of headers later the ball skimmed into the net. 1-3.

Whitchurch, tails up went for number four and almost did it with a break on their right but Fawcett who was now Keeper and back four rolled into one, raced off his line to make a great stop.

We went for broke. Ryan Kelly headed a corner on target and saw his effort cleared off the line. Ben Kelly turned the re bound in Bergin’s path. A shot on target again was beaten out.

Then 10 minutes to go another Eaton cross was hammered out but Evans followed in and slammed the ball past bodies to make it 2-3. 9 minutes left and Ryan Kelly turned his marker to find Johnson who had come on for Smith. Johnson went wide and delivered a low cross. Bergin sneaked past a defender to toe end the ball for goal. A Whitchurch boot stopped it crossing the line.

Back came Whitchurch. Elsom nipped their attack in the bud with a solid tackle. A pass inside found Warren. A switch wide found Johnson. Johnson wasted no time in crossing for Eaton. A shot was deflected, Dyer had read it well and his follow up volley flew past the keeper to make it 3-3.

Another corner. Ryan Kelly went high to nod across the area. Johnson turned the ball back for Bergin but this time the shot was wayward, finishing in the trees.

94 minutes and a tackle by Evans was judged a Red. On came Ben Cane to bolster up defence.

The free kick dropped on the spot. Heads went up and the ball somehow dropped almost on the line. A mad scramble and the ball trickled trickled into the net. 3-4.

Seconds were left when Cane won a tackle on our right flank and put the ball down the line for Eaton. A good run and a great cross. The delivery into the area found Johnson. A quick stab for goal was deflected and Ryan Kelly tried an angled shot. Legs got in the way. In came Dyer but Whitchurch grit and determination won through and the ball was eventually cleared up field.

One last attack carried us into the Whitchurch third.

Whitchurch appeared to have 22 players in defence. The ball couldn’t find a way through. The whistle went on a jubilant Whitchurch and a very disappointed Verwood.

Result 3-4.