SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
TUESDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2020
VERWOOD TOWN 1 LAVERSTOCK & FORD 1

Top of the table Laverstock arrived looking to continue their 100% winning streak. We turned up confident of stopping them.

Jordi Merit took the gloves supporting a back four of Watkins Elsom Kelly and Danvers. It was tight and tidy.

A much lauded L&F midfield was contested by Smith and Hall. It proved to be a fascinating 90 minutes.

3 minutes old and Danvers strong tackle won the ball on our left. A pass down the line released Zanin and the first shot of the match finished up in the keeper’s hands. The counter was quick. Merit raced off his line to gather on the edge of the box.

Elsom and Kelly had gauged the danger from L&F’s front runner’s and snuffed out early threats.

We settled to some good entertaining football. Smith sent Vining on a run and a rasping shot was well taken by a very good keeper. A long drop kick was met by Kelly, Kelly reacted by launching another attack down the left. A deep cross and King collected moving inside his marker to fire a low shot just wide of the post.

20 minutes and Zanin almost had us in front with a chip over the keeper, but was disappointed as the keeper back pedaled quickly to flick the ball over the angle of post and bar.

Vining then went close with a dipping lob over the keeper but agonized as the ball clipped the bar and went for dead.

Half Time 0-0.

L&F pushed hard from the re start. A run down their left was stopped dead as Watkins muscled his opponent off the ball. A quick through ball and King went free to cross deep into the L&F area. Vining’s header was palmed out, in stormed Smith to volley just over the bar. It was a good spell.

We got caught on 31 minutes as a clearance was whipped across our box. A simple tap in gave L&F the lead. 0-1.

Two minutes later we witnessed a brilliant Vining run finishing with a through ball allowing Zanin space in front of the sticks. A LF rocket leveled scores. 1-1.

Cooper had come on for Smith followed by Anderton coming on for King as we pushed on.

L&F developed an adrenalin rush and we were forced back to defend. Hall stopped one shot on the edge of the box and Elsom converted defence to attack with quality defending.

We had a good last few minutes as both teams went for the winner but there was no further change to the score line so both teams had to settle for a point each.

Result 1-1.