JOHN STIMPSON MEMORIAL SHIELD
TUESDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2016
VERWOOD TOWN RESERVES 2 WIMBORNE TOWN 5

The John Stimpson Memorial Shield competition brought us together with Wimborne Town on Potterne.

Graham Pope had a few missing but the squad for the night .

On the pitch …. Ray Stroud .. Joe Hawkins .. Luke Shutler .. George Thomas .. Harrison Harding .. Dan Ryan .. Louis Ryan .. Russel Dyer .. Lewis Brown .. Max Fletcher .. Dan Boar.

On the bench .. Matt Gilham .. Andy Hardiman .. Jack O’Driscoll .. Damien Gill.

We were still preening ourselves at the kick off. 20 seconds after the whistle Wimborne drifted through our terracotta army to tap the ball past Stroud. 1-0 !!!!

Graham Pope shelved the anti depressants to inject some helpful hints to the team and after the shaky start we saw a much better performance all round.

Dyer and Fletcher linked to produce an opportunity for Brown but the shot although on target didn’t trouble the keeper.

Wimborne hit back but Dan Ryan and Harrison Harding proved a top defensive partnership and little escaped them.

Boar and Lewis Brown were forging a good understanding and Brown’s volley from a Boar through ball brought out a tremendous save from Wimborne’s keeper.

Fletcher’s cross shot minutes later was half cleared and popped up for a Brown volley. 1-1

Brown then arrowed in on a Dyer free kick to power home number 2. …. 2-1.

44 minutes had Wimborne drawing level with a penalty. A well taken goal sent the teams in at half time level pegging.

Half Time 2-2

Lewis Brown hit the cross bar after only 30 seconds had elapsed of the second half. Fletcher followed in but the keeper punched clear.

Stroud then had to show his qualities as Wimborne gathered pace. A brilliant save on the line and then a punch to clear a cross was the forerunner as Wimborne got on top.

We rallied. Dyer and Fletcher pushed on and Fletcher tested the keeper with an excellent low shot very well handled.

Tired legs were beginning to show as the second half gathered pace. A few cracks appeared as the Harding Ryan partnership was disrupted because of Ryan’s knee problem.

A shuffle of positions then was needed. Gilham came on for Ryan and Dyer made way for O’Driscoll.

15 minutes left and a Wimborne counter attack went unchecked resulting in a 2-3 score line.

Wimborne retained discipline and their greater fitness level paid off with two late goals.

Result 2-5.