WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WEDNESDAY 4TH JANUARY 2017
VERWOOD TOWN 3 WHITCHURCH UNITED 0

Mike Haskell made a welcome return to the fold, scoring in the 23rd minute. Additional goals from Liam Donachy and Chas Gajic gave us a massive confidence boost.

It was a lively Whitchurch that tested Lynch in the first few minutes as the teams settled into a good open game. Mid field was a tussle but we had the edge with Dyer and Warren sparking attacks.

Haskell had a half chance blown when his shot was finger tipped round the post by a very good keeper. The corner dropped on the spot and Brown tried a half volley but hit bodies.

Whitchurch response was a central move that Donachy stopped on the edge of the area.

23 minutes and Haskell scored from a cross into the box making it a welcome return to the team. 1-0.

This Whitchurch squad was nothing like the one we played against at Whitchurch. Good football on the deck players running off the ball gave spectators a worthwhile spectacle.

Smith was having one of his better games with a sterling display alongside Donachy. It was a Smith interception that prevented Whitchurch a run on goal with a few minutes left of the half. Smith’s line ball and Bergin’s persistence paid off with a corner.

Donachy timed his effort from the corner to perfection. His description of the goal was that a quick glance saw a defender’s heel close to the line. An inch perfect ball hit the defenders heel for an ‘in off’. Donachy’s accuracy gave him the goal instead of OG. 2-0 on 43 minutes.

Half Time 2-0

We pushed on from the whistle. Haskell managed to escape the shackles of his marker and delivered a low shot on target. The keeper went low to palm out. Bergin surged in to hammer the re bound but the keeper produced a double save to keep the score at 2-0.

It was then a Whitchurch period with some good attacking football. Evans and Kelly had to excel as they were put under intense pressure. We defended well and with Lynch proving his qualities between the sticks we kept a tight reign on dangers near and in the box.

60 minutes Brown came off for Atkinson. We shuffled the formation but still preferred to attack than defend.

Gajic broke free on the edge of the area to deliver a stinging volley on target. Again the keeper went low timing his fingertip save to perfection.

Whitchurch stepped up their attacks. Extra work was required from our back four but we survived the onslaught.

7 minutes left and Fletcher came on for Bergin.

Warren spotted the new legs free on the right. A pass through the backs gave space and Fletcher went for goal. His run was cut short by a timely tackle but giving away a free kick. Dyer’s floater found Haskell but his header went high and wide.

93 minutes and another attack finished with a penalty decision. Gajic stepped up to put the ball in the net 3-0.

The whistle blew before the teams had a chance to line up again so although the papers will show a comfortable score line of 3-0, reality is that while we enjoyed the points the game was tighter than the score line suggests.

Result 3-0