SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 16TH MARCH 2019
VERWOOD TOWN 0 WHITCHURCH UNITED 3

Whitchurch opted to kick with the gale force swirling wind and we had a hint of what the first 45 minutes would be like when Thompson was out of the traps in the first minute to boot a ball clear of runners. A minute later Evans had to use his pace in taking out the ball and a player on Whitchurch left flank.

We rallied, but the opening spell was a scrappy affair with misplaced passes becoming the norm.

Our first real attack sprung through Guthrie winning a tackle centrally. The ball whipped out to find Gray, on to Eaton and a cross into the box was followed up by Vining. His shot was on target but blocked by defenders and cleared.

Davies went close shortly after and a Dyer free kick sailed wide as we pushed on. Then with 12 minutes on the clock a skirmish in the centre of the park finished with Guthrie slipping and colliding with opposition. A split lip later, the ref judged the incident worthy of a straight red.

We settled and played some good football Gajic and Kelly mopped up central counter attacks and Evans was having a good game wide right offering overlaps.

Whitchurch enjoyed a spell of possession and a mixture of long range shots plus crosses were well handled by Thompson.

8 minutes left of the half a cross from the right landed in our box. Partly cleared, the ball fell to a marauder and a shot took a cruel deflection to skip past Thompson. 0-1.

The half finished with a good move between Dyer and Eaton but Eaton’s final ball was cut out by the keeper.

Half Time 0-1.

Gray’s injury to his thigh put paid to his continuing the game. Nicholson came on for a one for one.

Davies and Vining raised hopes of a leveler but Vining’s effort was well taken by the keeper.

Davies had a shot that went high and wide and a Nicholson run into the box following Hall’s through ball was blocked by the centre half.

Whitchurch looked the stronger despite the wind now in our favour. Their work ethic was admirable. Every ball was challenged and they were first in for any headers.

Eaton tracked back to cover runners but a tackle in the box was judged a foul and a resultant penalty meant a score line of 0-2.

Thompson then had to show his qualities as Whitchurch gathered momentum. Good handling was needed as Whitchurch peppered the area.

Adam Holmes came on for Josh Hall with 59 minutes left and felt the brunt of strong tackles in the middle of the park.

A lax bit of defending let in a Whitchurch runner with 58 minutes left and resulted in a score line of 0-3. W

e had lost our disciplines and three points but hung on for the whistle without conceding further.

Result 0-3.