WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 2016
VERWOOD TOWN 0 MONEYFIELDS 4

Within the first minute we had forced our way through a tight defence leaving Atkinson with an opportunity. The shot went over the bar. That was it !!! We slipped back into our Jekyll and Hyde syndrome.

Moneyfields work rate was far better than ours and they had possession for long spells as the game wore on. It meant greater pressure on our defence .

4 minutes and Elson cut across to make a crucial stop on the edge of the box. A minute later it was Donachy’s turn to climb high in the box to divert the ball wide right. Bergin went on a gallop but was reigned in quickly by a strong tackle taking the ball and player over the line.

Kimber diverted a ball heading for goal and then Kelly cleared a cross dropping on the penalty spot.

7 minutes we gave away a corner. Lax defending left players free for a short corner and the ball dipped in from the flank finishing in the top corner. 0-1.

It was then the Banfield show. A low volley from the edge of the box was superbly taken on the line. A cross shot seconds later was thumped out and then an excellent catch under the bar kept the score at 0-1.

Smith toiled away up front in an unfamiliar position of centre forward but the quality in Moneyfield’s ranks on the day was sufficient for them maintaining possession .

Atkinson and Bergin had a couple of runs but to no avail. We didn’t have enough on the day to break through.

Johnson tracked back to join Kelly in defence and was instrumental in sparking a snap counter attack. A line ball found Smith. A cross gave Atkinson a run on goal but the keeper was off his line quickly to hammer the ball away from danger.

12 minutes and it was 0-2 as we gave the ball away in mid field and left space for an easy passage.

We were lack lustre, and Moneyfields benefitted greatly with possession without challenge.

5 minutes left of the first half and a deep ball into the box was met by a Moneyfield’s head. 0-3. Slack marking and punished for it.

Half Time 0-3

Ryan Johnson took an exceptionally hard tackle towards the end of the fist half resulting in Ben Cane coming on up front. Ryan’s trip to A&E gave bad news that he had suffered a left shoulder dislocation.

53 minutes and a ball pumped through the middle was tracked by Donachy. A sliding tackle was judged a foul. The penalty beat Banfield, 0-4.

We rallied slightly. Dyer and Maddocks tried hard to engineer a few attacks and both Bergin and Atkinson had runs on goal. Moneyfields defence was breached a couple of times but our malady persisted of missing the target.

Elsom and Donachy linked to work the ball up field and Elson’s pass through the Moneyfields back four opened up space. Atkinson breezed in but was beaten to the ball by the keeper.

Moneyfield’s hit back and with 13 minutes left broke through on their left. A low volley was on target but Banfield made a brilliant left handed save pushing the ball out for a corner.

Donachy won the heading duel and Elsom followed up taking the ball wide right. A line ball found Bergin. A cross reached Cane but Cane’s shot was topped and the keeper had no difficulty collecting the ball on the line.

7 minutes left it was Elsom again surging forward that created a gap. Bergin went through to hammer the ball for goal. The keeper saved with legs.

Donachy and Kelly went for broke. A couple of token attacks were followed in and a corner resulted. Up went Donachy. His header was punched out. Kelly hammered the ball back from the edge of the area but bodies got in the way and the ball was cleared.

We couldn’t score. Our game became insipid. Energy seemed to have disappeared and we gave way constantly for a Moneyfield side to enjoy more space than they would get in a training session.

Banfield saved a long hopeful shot and then we suffered another blow as a Dyer overstretched tackle meant a calf muscle problem. On came Anderton.

Kelly dipped the ball for Cane to run on to. Cane delivered a low cross and Anderton first touch of the ball almost resulted in a goal but the keeper was well placed to take the catch.

We meandered on. Moneyfields had purpose and tried to breach our back four and Banfield, but we held on until the whistle. We were lucky to get nil.

Result 0-4