DORSET SENIOR CUP
TUESDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 2019
SWANAGE TOWN & HERSTON 1 VERWOOD TOWN 1 (GAME ABANDONED AT 90 MINUTES)

Report extract from Sydenhams League News 10th November 2019 by Mike Robbins

TORRENTIAL rain eventually put this intriguing cup tie to bed at the end of 90 minutes. The Dorset Senior Cup one of the few competitions where extra time still applies, and the pitch was deemed to be unplayable at the final whistle and the hosts, former members of our League, had seconds before that final whistle a golden opportunity to seal a victory but they simply couldn’t make the most of the chance.

There was just a hint of the poor weather to come when the Potters took the lead. A run by Lee Vint from halfway ended with a weak cross with no team mate coming up to finish off but with barely six minutes on the clock Ethan MADDOCKS’ right foot out-swinger flew into the net from distance, hard to say from my vantage point if it was intended or not.

The Swans however almost had the perfect riposte. Cody Moore who had a good game on the flank shrugged off a number of challenges on a run into the penalty area at the Cricket Ground end but just ran out of options and being crowded out. With Swanage keeper James Langdon being the busier of the two he made some fine saves to keep the score at just the one.

A Maddocks free kick from distance was acrobatically tipped away and just after midway through the half, a header caught Langdon off his line but the scramble back wasn’t needed as the crossbar came to the rescue and was cleared from danger. As the half drew to a close, a Charlie Gajic header crashed off the bar dropped on to the line and was hacked to safety.

Half-Time 0-1

With the rain continuing to fall, the equaliser came just three minutes after the restart. Tommy BEARD converted a free kick from close to the Changing Room block with his strike hardly leaving ground level and nestling in the bottom corner to set up a gripping second half, well, almost.

The rain was certainly influencing the way the game progressed and it was Langdon again who rescued the Swans when another Maddocks free kick curled round the wall was punched to safety. Just after the hour mark ex Potter Aaron Atkinson’s first touch after coming on as a sub almost put the hosts ahead but he was unable to capitalise on the chance.

In a way it was a blessing that the game was undecided at full time and so the two go again next week, hopefully in drier circumstances although both sides put on a fine display given the conditions.

Full-Time 1-1