WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2021
PETERSFIELD TOWN 0 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Petersfield’s opening salvo won a corner in the first minute that new keeper Matt Peart did well to palm away from the line. Burt helped it further upfield but another attack followed this time on the other flank that Webber cut out with a strong tackle.

Petersfield pinned us back. Jake Kelly had dropped deeper to help and was instrumental tidying up another attack through the middle. A pass back to Danvers on to Osman and our counter finished with Vining volleying but only to watch the keeper take the shot from under the bar.

The referee introduced himself to Sam Danvers with 9 minutes gone. A quick chat on not being rough followed after a blocked ball incident finished with a Petersfield player grounded.

Then we experienced a series of decisions that were at best questionable. A free kick awarded against Davies for controlling a ball with his right foot instead of his left, was dropped into our box. Watkins cleared with a well judged header finding Osman. Osman’s through ball found Kelly on the flank but his cross was too near the keeper. A long clearance was tracked by Burt, his inch perfect cross field ball dropped on Kelly’s toes. Good control and a ball inside the backs gave Osman half a chance. It was enough. 1-0.

Petersfield reacted as expected. A barrage of balls into our third pegging us back again.

Curious decisions tended to slow the game up. A number of innocuous tackles from both sides were judged free kicks. Others that were nearer the correct free kick decision were allowed to flow.

Spectators using a rude but fluent language harangued. It didn’t make any difference.

Peart was busy collecting distanced shots on goal whilst suffering ear ache from the local out of tune choristers who had crept in.

On 31 minutes Burt again was the brick wall presented to Petersfield’s forwards. A great header cleared a dangerous cross and found Vining in space. A clever flick cleared a defender. Davies gathered, cut into the box and gave the keeper no chance with an unstoppable shot. 2-0.

Marking got tighter. Davies’ almost lost his shirt rounding the full back and Chilman thought he had a Siamese twin.

Half Time 2-0.

The start of the second half was a carbon copy of the first. NASA would have been proud of such accurate launches.

Webber cut out an attack on Petersfield’s left and Danvers did the same on the other flank within minutes.

Peart palmed a couple of dangerous ‘floaters’ from under the bar as we again came under increasing pressure.

Kelly collected a Hall pass and chipped on to Chilman. A sliding tackle took Chilman over the line. Davies took the free kick but blasted wide.

11 minutes gone and Cooper came on for Kelly.

Hall was dropped on the half way line but the game was held up for a few minutes whilst the Petersfield player was helped off. On came a sub and Petersfield shuffled the pack.

Tackles flew in. Davies was floored by a ‘slider’. On raced Jon Brewer. Miracle application and up jumped Davies.

Pressure was intense. No doubting Petersfield’s ‘want to win’ attitude.

A series of good football moves from Petersfield split us in the middle. Watkins and Burt brilliantly held firm making crucial tackles.

25 minutes gone and Vining joined the bench for a quick oxygen boost. Powis took over an ‘up front’ role.

29 minutes Hall got the dreaded Sin Bin card. Lesson learned. Don’t challenge a decision. !!

Pressure was relentless. Danvers headed clear from a right flank cross. Webber proved an impenetrable barrier on our right as Petersfield’s switch from aerial combat to a more flowing ‘on the deck play’ contained us in our third.

39 minutes we challenged the referee’s hourglass timing as Hall still languished in the ‘Bin’. Osman then made way for Hancox.

A minute later the refs alarm rang and Hall was given the nod to resume.

The hourglass must have clogged up. 50 minutes of the half gone and a couple of tackles produced handbags .. the serious type. In stepped the referee. Arguments continued. Sam Chilman picked up the ball ready to continue. The referee misinterpreted thinking it was a time wasting effort and flourished a red card. Off came a bewildered Sam Chilman.

52 minutes gone and the whistle went on a very hard earned 3 points.

Result 2-0.