FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND
SUNDAY 6th AUGUST 2017
BADSHOT LEA 1 VERWOOD TOWN 1

This was our first game of the season and on a Sunday !!! Nevertheless we were up for it and treading the turf from the whistle :-

Horton Smith Lindsey Ballard O’Hare Dyer Elsom Kimber Meyer Vining Fletcher.

On the bench -- Setters Glatzel Head Hall Webber Warren.

Badshot were quick off the mark and Lindsey did well to cut out an attempted cross. A pass inside to Kimber and a cross field ball for Elsom put us on the attack. Elsom’s chip onto the far post was well taken by the keeper.

It was a good opening spell with both teams playing good football along the deck.

Ballard climbed high to clear a corner and Jack Smith took up the running out of defence. Linking with Dyer the move continued down the line. Dyer’s cross found Meyer but a strong tackle blocked progress.

Badshot found their rhythm quicker than we did and strung some good moves together.

Vining went close with an angled shot following a Fletcher run down the left resulting in a low cross.

O’Hare and Ballard got busier as Badshot mixed their approach with a few long balls but our new pairing did well to quell the aerial threat.

Horton made a good save from a corner with a few minutes left helping the half to finish without any score board movement.

Half Time 1-1

Only a minute gone and a Badshot long ball down the middle was won by Ballard. A pass along the line gave space for O’Hare to move up field. Kimber and Dyer took over and a Kimber angled shot went just wide of the post.

Badshot’s reaction typified their character. 49 minutes gone and a good move finished with a shot flying past Horton into the bottom corner. 0-1.

53 minutes and we had to make positional changes when Lindsey damaged his ankle and had to come off. The versatile Elsom dropped into right back spot with Jack Smith switching to left flank. On came Kelly to take up Elsom’s initial role.

Badshot almost had a second with a volley from the edge of the box but the ball sailed just over the bar into the bushes.

Badshot were first to the ball on many occasions and we had to backtrack in numbers. Our defence remained solid and on 53 minutes O’Hare headed a clearance to Elsom. Elsom rounded his marker and sent a slide rule pass to Kelly. A quick turn and a daisy cutter sped into the bottom corner. 1-1.

Joe Meyer made way for Luke Hall on a one for one. Badshot edged the play during the middle of the half and we were under pressure. Smith won a tussle on the line and using Kimber took away the danger.

Hall and Vining had a couple of shots but Badshot’s defence was more than equal in keeping us at bay.

Horton made the save of the game with a fingertip flick on to bar from a swerving left foot shot.

At the other end Kelly blasted a volley inches past the post.

The game finished with both benches on squeaky bum time and a result of 1-1.

The replay will be on Tuesday night 08 08 17 -- 19.45 kick off.

Result 1-1.