SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 17th MARCH 2018
CHRISTCHURCH 1 VERWOOD TOWN 0

A Christchurch cross into the box was claimed by the home team but luckily it was only a rattled cross bar that suffered.

We defended deep and in numbers as Christchurch pushed us back in a torrid 10 minute attacking spell.

Browning and Ballard withstood an intense aerial bombardment. Watkins and O’Hare did well to contain the flanks as we bedded in.

On 11 minutes Gale worked the ball out of mid field and a lob over the backs gave a chance for Guthrie to go free. The keeper raced from his line to gather the ball before Guthrie connected.

The game went end to end and on 15 minutes Ballard’s no nonsense tackle stopped a Christchurch move getting into the box. Ballard’s clearance was collected by Dyer. Good feet took him through mid field. Guthrie took up the running gaining a corner. O’Hare judged it to a nicety but his volley hit the bar.

Half way through the half a Ballard tackle in the box was judged a foul so Haigh faced a penalty. The ball hit the post and O’Hare wasted no time in ballooning it up field.

15 minutes to go and we were enjoying more possession. Jaco hit a low cross from the left that Ollie Davies hammered goalward but saw it blocked. Guthrie then had a shot blocked a yard off the line as Christchurch got numbers back to defend.

Cruelty hit us on 45 minutes when a hopeful high ball into our box took a diverted flight and slipped under the bar. 0-1 Half Time 0-1

50 minutes and a hand ball in Christchurch box wasn’t given. Harsh. Dyer, a minute later almost made it 1-1 but his low shot was well taken at the foot of the post by the keeper.

We stayed on attack. Manley had a shot that went wide and then Browning powered a header back up field from a long Christchurch clearance.

Haigh produced a great save from a free kick and then Watkins made a superb tackle on the edge of the box as Christchurch hit back.

Jaco made way for Sam Lench to have a run on 65 minutes.

Gale and Dyer linked to work the ball through mid field and Gale fed the ball wide to Davies. Davies threaded his pass through the backs. Guthrie went free but before putting the ball in the net was whistled up for offside.

85 minutes saw a first team debut for Matt Davis who came on for Ryan Watkins.

3 minutes extra time. Davis slipped a good central pass for Manley, on to Guthrie but bodies blocked a last gasp effort.

Result 0-1