WESSEX LEAGUE CUP
WEDNESDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2016
VERWOOD TOWN 0 ALRESFORD TOWN 4

Chris Lynch cried off ill mid afternoon leaving us with a frantic couple of hours seeking a goalkeeper. Dan Fawcett was able to bale us out, arriving only minutes before the kick off. Line up then …

Fawcett .. Evans .. Kelly B .. Elsom .. Donachy .. Smith P .. Warren .. Kelly R .. Gajic .. Bergin.

Smith M .. Phelps .. Johnson .. Cane .. Dodd, …….made up the squad.

Alresford broke on the left from the kick off giving Ben Kelly an early baptism. Elsom linked in and a ball back in space gave Kelly room to send Bergin away on the left. A cross was well taken by the keeper. A long ball up field had runners chasing it, but Donachy was first in with a header clearing the ball wide right. Pepe Smith went clear but hit the ball just wide of the post.

It was a bright opening showing an Alresford team having an edge in possession and full of running. Most challenges went their way as we gave ground.

Fawcett caught a hopeful shot on target and then went low to his right to deflect another effort past the post.

Donachy and Elsom looked to have the measure of lively central attackers until with 10 minutes gone a Donachy challenge just inside the box was judged a foul. Fawcett had no chance with the penalty 0-1.

5 minutes later a run down the right and a deep cross was allowed to drop in the penalty box. A good turn and shot put Alresford ahead 0-2.

Then two minutes later a tussle for the ball left the referee judging another foul 25 yards out. The free kick stayed low and buried itself in the bottom corner. 0-3. It looked like a disaster movie.

29 minutes a high long ball down Alresford’s right finished with a cross and an unmarked player tapped the ball past Fawcett making it 0-4.

A late splurge of energy saw Ryan Kelly go close with a rising shot and then Bergin hit the side netting with a good shot from a narrow angle.

Alresford wanted more so Evans and Ben Kelly had to stay wide to contain the line balls while Elsom and Donachy stayed tight in the middle.

Half Time 0-4.

Kris Anderton’s intake of Diazepam was noticeable as we kicked off. A glazed expression had replaced the frustrated look at the end of the first half.

47 minutes and Ben Kelly raised hopes of a revival as he swapped passes with Bergin and unleashed a terrific shot that clipped the post and finished in the side netting.

A livelier few minutes followed with Bergin and Ryan Kelly finding room to attack. The keeper took a Kelly ball from under the bar and palmed away a Bergin left footer.

Pepe Smith with 5 minutes gone of the half went free on the right and an angled shot whistle over the top.

On 51 minutes Bergin made way for Johnson. Kris Anderton decided on a three at the back formation so Evans moved up a peg to back up Dyer and Warren.

Dyer’s influence had been curtailed to a large extent in the first half by a strong tackling Alresford mid field. Perseverance prevailed as Dyer came more and more into the game. A good exchange with Warren left space for a shot and Dyer whipped a low volley on target. The keeper gathered at the second attempt.

We had eased ourselves into the game and some good football between Warren and Johnson opened up a gap on the left. Johnson hammered a low ball into the area but saw his cross, booted high up field.

Alresford upped their game and brought the best out of what was now our back three. Elsom Donachy and Ben Kelly stood firm. What did escape was tidied up by Fawcett.

Christer Warren made way for Martin Smith on 59 minutes with a one for one exchange.

We pressed Alresford and forced a corner. Donachy went high but headed over the bar. Martin Smith put his header over the same angle.

We looked more cohesive and had several opportunities but couldn’t break Alresford’s defence.

81 minutes and Ben Cane came on for Pepe Smith. Cane’s challenge was to join Ryan Kelly up front and try and put the ball in the net. Unfortunately it was too big an ask at this stage of the game so the whistle went on our exit from the Wessex League Cup.

Result 0-4