DORSET SENIOR CUP
TUESDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2017
PORTLAND UNITED 4 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Portland’s sign of intent came in the second minute with a run and cross from the right. Ballard did the business blocking the cross and clearing wide to Hockey. Hockey’s progress came to an abrupt halt by a block tackle taking Hockey and the ball over the line.

Browning and Ballard were very active keeping a tight reign at this stage on a very robust couple of forwards.

Haigh pulled of a great save at the foot of the post from another snap attack.

It was a pacey game. Portland was more accurate in passing quality than us and we suffered by giving the ball away too easily.

We went ahead in the 8th minute with a Frost Dyer link sending Richardson forward. Richardson’s ball left created space and Hockey’s ball into the box caused frantic efforts by Portland to clear. Anderton solved the problem by slamming the ball past the keeper to put us ahead 0-1.

Portland’s answer was to push on and with 16 minutes gone went clear through. A shot was heading for the corner of the net but diverted past the post by the energetic Webber.

22 minutes gone and Portland drew level with a good goal following a spell of good inter passing.

James tenacity sorted out a couple of left flank attacks and good link up play with Dyer and Frost put us just outside the box. James finished off the move slipping the ball wide to Hockey. The cross was clawed out of the air before Anderton could reach it.

A minute to go and Haigh made a superb save at feet.

Half Time 1-1

We didn’t wilt in the opening minutes and conversely had the ball in Portland's net after Frost had put through Hockey. Hockey’s finish was clinical and the ball hit the back of the net with the keeper stranded. Congratulations were short lived as the linesman flagged an offside. A voice from the barrier suggested the flag should be used for a pile cleansing exercise but the decision made meant no change to the score line.

Hockey was being marked by two defenders. The inevitable substitution then took place with a more pacey defender trying to get into Sam’s shirt.

Disaster struck in the 67th minute. A long clearance out of Portland’s defence cleared mid field but our central pairing both miscalculated flight and the ball dropped kindly for a runner to have the freedom of the park and who finished the run with a good shot putting Porlland ahead. 1-2.

We were asleep from the re start and the lack of discipline gave an opening the width of the Grand Canyon to allow a simple goal to put Portland further ahead 1-3.

Minutes later we won a free kick. Dyer’s ball was inch perfect. Frost rose high to head for goal. The keeper was beaten but the ball was hoofed off the line.

Watkins came on for Anderton and Robinson on for Frost with 75 minutes gone.

77 minutes we were still thinking about shape when players drifted through a static back four and the score board recorded a 1-4 score line.

We hit back and Webber’s pace took him past his marker to the bye line. A deep cross was scrambled out of the 6 yard box.

Dyer and Richardson worked like Beavers to claim mid field and we had a couple of attempts at goal before Kimber slammed our second from just on the edge of the area.

Result 2-4