SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
TUESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2019
VERWOOD TOWN 0 HYTHE & DIBDEN 5

A week ago a flooded pitch prevented the game from going ahead. We had a strong squad on that day. This re arranged fixture suffered from a squad decimated by sickness and diarrhoea. Injured players were called in to make up the numbers so it was a very different line up than originally expected.

The first half was played at a fast pace and of which we had a good share of the ball. Sam Joy had an angled shot held on the near post by a good keeper The clearance was high and long. Gajic cut out the attack and chipped to Heggan. A 20 yarder whipped past the post.

Hythe’s counter got them into the area followed by a shot. Thompson confidently gathered. On 7 minutes Hythe’s continued pressure took them wide right and a deep cross was again dealt with by Thompson.

Midfield was contested by Heggan and Kimber. Heggan took a strong tackle across his damaged ankle but after treatment soldiered on.

Kimber and Vining were closely shadowed by Hythe’s backs and had difficulty breaking into the box. We switched attacks to the flanks and found space for crosses. Cowland and Evans worked the overlaps but we couldn’t convert created chances.

The nearest we got to a goal was after 25 minutes when Joy won a strong tackle and freed up Vining. His volley had the keeper beaten but went inches wide of the foot of the post.

Hythe defended well and with 2 minutes left of the half cleared one of our attacks. A clinical piece of football put them on the edge of the box and a snap shot finished up in the corner of the net. 0-1

Half Time 0-1.

H&D upped their pace from the start bringing the best from Gajic Johnston and Cowland. We dropped deeper. Joy headed one cross out of the box and Thompson flipped a dipping shot over the bar for a corner. Johnston cleared.

Mick Cowland came off 0n 55 minutes having played with calf strain and was replaced by Josh Hall who was recovering from a similar condition.

We opened up on 59 minutes and H&D took the opportunity to increase their lead. 0-2.

Hall and Nicholson partnership split H&D on their left. Nicholson cut in but had his shot blocked by a defensive wall.

66 minutes H&D’s corner was half cleared. It fell sweet for a 20 yard volley to finish up in the net 0-3.

We looked tired and passing quality deteriorated. Davies however was proving a thorn in H&D’s defence putting one shot just over the bar and seeing a blistering drive palmed out by the keeper.

Evans hamstring forced a change on 74 minutes with Nwokolu taking up a spot on the left.

A shuffle of the pack was needed so a couple of minutes later we had a different formation in the back.

75 minutes Johnston’s sliding tackle was judged a foul and the resultant penalty provided a 0-4 score line.

We still had some grit and determination and Vining had a shot cleared off the line followed by skipper Joe Kimber hammering a shot overt the bar.

6 minutes left and a harsh decision was another penalty. Justice was done when the ball hit pigeons.

We pushed up. Tired legs couldn’t recover so a runner sped away to make the closing score 0-5.

Result 0-5