PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
SATURDAY 15th JULY 2017
WARMINSTER TOWN 5 VERWOOD TOWN 0

Our first friendly of the season saw a big squad at Warminster but with several still missing. A lot of positional experiments were planned so in the starting line up…

Horton Grant Smith Warren O'Hare Head Beattie Dyer William Manley Swann to come on Gilham Webber Robinson Evans Anderton Fletcher Evans Kimber Barrett.

Only two minutes old and we gave away a free kick. Warren booted clear from the 6 yard box. We carefully watched it bounce and be lobbed back into the area. Smith raced across and hoofed it up field. Again we were enthralled to watch Wartminster runners take charge and lob the missile into the area. This time a size 9 turned it past Horton. 0-1.

A surge of adrenalin and we attacked through Swann and Beattie. A cross shot was well taken by the keeper. A launch that would have been envied at cape Canaveral and the ball dropped on the edge of our box. We had again ball watched and let a stroller in on the left. A simple shot and … 0-2.

Motivation was slow in arriving. A few sparks with Dyer and Manley linking up to send William free. The keeper was out quickly to gather.

O'Hare and Warren were busy but Smith had to come off with a quad strain. Anderton was revived on the bench to take a bow.

28 minutes gone and a run down Warminster's right finished with a high cross into the area. A shot and deflection made it 0-3.

We picked up a bit but saw the half out 0-3 down.

Half Time 0-3

Wholesale changes of personnel and positional took place for the second half. We were still settling when a long ball landed in the area. Defensive cover blocked the shot but the referee had judged a foul had taken place and awarded a penalty. 0-4.

We came out of our shell with Kimber having an exceptional impact on the game.

Fletcher and Webber shone with good interplay on the right. Fletcher had a shot whizz across the goal and Webber topped a shot under pressure giving the keeper an easy save.

Gilham's cross on 61 minutes found Barrett. A run to the bye line and Barrett hit a low ball into the area. Webber pounced but hit defenders. Fletcher tried one and again defenders blocked the shot.

Kimber showed brilliant control in the box and a cut back gave Anderton a chance to shine but the ball sailed over the bar.

Horton was beaten again with 77 minutes gone when he was deserted by his defence and faced a long ball and runners. 0-5.

The game finished with a resounding victory for Warminster but for us a warm up and a need to sharpen up.

Result 0-5