SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 6th JANUARY 2018
VERWOOD TOWN 3 WHITCHURCH UNITED 0

It was a scrappy start. Both teams looked ragged with passes going astray. Whitchurch had the better of exchanges during the opening spell and it took 15 minutes before we had a pop at goal. Russ Dyer broke shackles in the middle of the park and tried a long distance shot that crawled past the bottom of the post.

Whitchurch were first to most balls and gradually pushed us back. Glatzel dropped into the middle berth alongside O’Hare and did well to fortify resistance to Whitchurch pressure.

Isaac Haigh looked on form denying a couple of good shots on target and produced a great diving save with 20 minutes gone giving away a corner. James rose high above the rest to clear the corner away from the box.

Browning’s cultivated right foot steered defence splitting ball for Gale to run on to. Gales pace took him free of his marker and a low ball across the box found Vining. Vining’s shot beat the keeper but inched wide.

Kelly and Manley combined on the break to test Whitchurch defence but with a ‘no goal ‘result.

Half Time 0-0

We opened well and for a change didn’t concede in the first five minutes.

Gale shot over the bar and Kelly’s header from a corner were the only threats we could muster in the first 25 minutes of the second half. Then on 75 minutes Manley tried to break through but was dropped heavily. The offender’s follow up, treading on Manley, was seen by the ref so a Red Card was flourished.

Whitchurch seemed to pick up their game after the sending off and we had to defend in numbers. Webber mastered his flank stopping crosses and Glatzel’s defensive qualities were tested to the full as Whitchurch went for the lead.

On 77 minutes Manley released Gale. A shot was half cleared. Kelly picked up the ball in our third. Spotting the keeper off his line Kelly volleyed a high ‘dipper’ and the ball nestled snugly in the bottom corner 1-0.

82 minutes and Manley ripped through a defensive wall to steer the ball past the keeper 0-2

86 minutes on came Robinson for Kelly. 90 minutes on came Gilham for James.

92 minutes and Manley put the game to bed with a clinical finish from a Gale cross.

The whistle blew on a welcome three points.

Result 3-0