BOURNEMOUTH SENIOR CUP FINAL
TUESDAY 19th DECEMBER 2017
BASHLEY 3 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Treading the turf :-
Haigh O’Hara Webber Smith Frost Dyer Vining Joy Guthrie Gale Davies

Warming the bench:-<
Gilham Manley Daniels

Laxity in defence after 6 minutes led to Bashley getting in a shot that put them ahead 0-1. It was a disastrous start.

We looked slow and disorganised as Bashley forced us back. Midfield belonged to Bashley as we meandered through the first 20 minutes. We didn’t close down and stood off tackles. Haigh saved a couple of shots but gradually we got our act together.

Dyer sent Davies away on the left forcing a corner. Frost climbed higher than everyone else but put his header over the bar.

Smith diverted a defending cross into the box and Gutherie took up the running. Good feet took him through midfield but his finishing shot was well taken by the keeper.

Vining collected a through ball from O’Hara and his cross was pinpoint. Guthrie followed in and a deadly finish made it 1-1.

Davies suffered a heavy tackle on 37 minutes and was left with a hamstring tear. Joe Manley came on with a shuffle of the pack needed to maintain balance.

Half Time 1-1

4 minutes into the second half we gave away a free lick on the edge of the box. There was nothing Haigh could do as an inch perfect shot flew into the top corner. 1-2.

We suddenly developed the same spirit as we had against Lymington and carried the game to Bashley. Dyer hit a volley just wide and on 58 minutes Guthrie forced his way past a couple of defenders to hammer a cross shot past the keeper. 2-2.

Webber worked the ball down the line minutes later for Joy to try a dipping shot but over the bar.

We gave the ball away on 63 minutes and left a gap on the edge of the box. It was all Bashley needed to grab the lead again 2-3.

Bashley then had a purple patch for a few minutes. O’Hare was a hero blocking a shot in the six yard box and then carrying the ball to safety.

Smith powered a header over the bar from a corner and then Vining whipped a cross shot on goal from a narrow angle. Again we suffered watching the ball hit the side netting.

Haigh matched anything Bashley had in the last ten minutes as we pushed up leaving a token defence. Gilham came on for Webber and was soon joining in a thrilling finish.

A minute to go and we had Bashley’s defence under intense pressure. It looked like all their players, bench and management were in the 6 yard box. We hit bodies instead of the back of the net.

It was a rousing finish but with Bashley taking the spoils.

Result 2-3.