WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
TUESDAY 14TH MARCH 2017
BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS 4 VERWOOD TOWN 0

Jeremy James last played in goal for us 03 12 16 against Fareham, before suffering a broken foot, so it was a welcome return. Unfortunately he was still pulling on his gloves when he had to exercise his back and recover the ball from the back of the net as Bem punished laxity with a quick attack and shot hitting the back of the net within 3 minutes. 0-1.

We gradually got ourselves back in the game and Fletcher with Ryan Kelly up top almost pulled us level with a good interchange but Kelly’s shot went wide of the upright.

Bergin ghosted through a couple of tackles to float a ball into the box but good defending cleared the danger before Fisk could get a foot in.

Fletcher did well to escape close marking and his cross found Kelly in the 6 yard box. A strong header should have been a leveler but the header went down the keepers throat.

Bem were eager, first to most balls, and certainly in charge of second balls. Dyer and Kimber battled away in the middle but Bem were quicker than us and had most of the play.

O’Hare and Warren’s central pairing was a first and O’Hare, benefitting from the experienced Warren’s chat did well in countering aerial threats.

James pulled off a couple of good saves from on target shots and Ben Kelly cut out flank danger as Bem increased pressure.

27 minutes and a high ball into the box was part blocked but the bounce was kind to Bem and a cheeky lob over the advancing Jsmes made it 0-2.

4 minutes later we went three down as a runner was allowed to go free and put the ball into the bottom corner 0-3.

We were on the rack for a while but resilience helped and we countered well when we escaped the pressure. Bergin collected a Ben Kelly line ball and produced an inch perfect cross for Fletcher to latch onto. A shot on target was half cleared and Fisk strode in for a shot. The keeper did exceptionally well to hold the ball on the line.

Then it was Elsom’s turn to show a touch of class with a great tackle on the edge of the box and rounding his man sparked a counter down the right. Ryan Kelly foraged and slammed in a cross for Bergin. A good centre half cleared the danger.

Half Time 0-3.

A good half time chat was a confidence booster and reflected with some good football bringing in skills from Fletcher and Ryan Kelly. A cross from Fletcher was plucked out of the air by the keeper as Kelly stole in.

Bem’s counter attacks were quick and long balls. It had both Elsom and Ben Kelly on their toes but good positional play blocked entrance to the box.

Then we suffered a counter. Good pressure took players into Bem’s third. A long clearance this time found us scampering back but too late as the ball slid past James for Bem’s number four. 0-4.

58 minutes and the game see sawed. O’Hare took the ball off toes and whipped a pass through the middle. An interception put Bem back in our half and a surprising Warren burst of speed won the race on goal. Beware Usain Bolt.

Jamie Webber came on for James Bergin with 63 minutes gone and was soon in the thick of it blocking a line attack and doing well to guide the ball across the middle to Dyer. A typical Dyer ball fell for Fisk. A cross and Ryan Kelly almost had one back with a great shot but again at the keeper.

Max Purton then came on for Harvey Elsom in a one for one.

We pushed on to reduce arrears. Fisk and Kelly worked space and a final shot was punched clear of the area. A long clearance fell for a runner but again Warren was there to block progress. Warren’s ball to O’Hare was carried through the middle and a ball wide to Webber put us on the edge of the box. Webber struck a clean shot but bodies had piled in and provided an impenetrable wall.

Bem hit back. Kimber dropped deep to assist defenders and made a telling tackle on the edge of the area before a shot could be made.

Purton joined Fisk for a run on goal and a daisy cutter found Kelly. A wide ball found Webber but his cross was taken from under the bar by the keeper.

We slugged it out until the whistle. The result was a disappointment for us, but also we had a big confidence boost in the knowledge that the younger members of our squad are maturing so well.

Result 0-4.