SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018
NEW MILTON TOWN 1 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Elliott Head and Russell Dyer were busy from the kick off in curbing an eager New Milton. A few hard tackles flew about, one flooring Dean Evans stopping him breaking out from the back.

A corner won by Carkeet and delivered by Dyer dropped in the six yard box. Pierson soared higher than the opposition but put the ball over the bar.

16 minutes gone and we lost discipline in the back. A good move down NM right flank finished with a cut back from the line and a player unmarked on the edge of the box slammed the ball past Lynch. 0-1.

NM had a purple patch giving Evans and Mills a lot to do but with Pierson and Joy on form we kept tight and tidy at the back.

Gradually we climbed back in the game but passing was woeful. Nonetheless we persevered and got better as the half wore on.

Nicolson and Evans worked the flank and Nicolson’s cross found Hatch. A steaming header went over the bar.

NM opened us up with ten minutes left of the half and Lynch made a remarkable double save as NM tried to alter the score board. Lynch having gathered the second effort threw wide for Evans, Evans on to Head and a dinked ball over the full back gave Nicolson a half chance and his deadly finish made it 1-1.

Mills joined the attack with 4 minutes left and hooked a ball from the edge of the box forcing a good save from the keeper. The ball spilled, Kimber was on it like a flash and side footed for the corner of the net.
The keeper stopped it on the line.

Half Time 1-1

There was to be no sitting back. Dyer won a tussle and slipped the ball wide for Nicolson. Cutting in, a rising shot was beaten out by the keeper. Kimber followed in and hammered the ball into the bottom corner. 2-1.

2 minutes later Nicolson fired over the bar from the edge of the area and then Hatch used good feet to cut inside his marker and took varnish off the post with a curling shot from the edge of the box.

56 minutes and Pierson’s hamstring caused him to come off. O’Hare was ready and able to fill in at centre half.

We settled quickly and Joy worked the ball down the line with Mills. A pass inside the back gave Carkeet a sight of goal. The keeper’s hands were safe.

NM had a sudden splurge and we found ourselves on the back foot. Lynch made a great save and then supported by Joy and O’Hare body blocking shots from the edge of the area.

A Dyer pass inside the backs fell nicely for Kimber but a heavy tackle robbed him of a shot.

Hatch could be offered for a spot on ‘Strictly’ demonstrating his talent by turning his marker and waltzing inside the box. A right footer should have been our third but the keeper did exceptionally well to save on the line.

Mills came off on 71 minutes giving Richardson a run. Impact was instant as Richardson delivered a line ball for Hatch to cut inside and shoot. It went wide.

NM’s response was squeaky bum time as they played their way to the edge of the box and several efforts were either blocked or taken by Lynch.

95 minutes and we had the Richardson show as he held the ball wide right and challenged the home side to get it. The whistle blew before they had a chance to test him.

Result 2-1