WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
MONDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2021
VERWOOD TOWN 2 NEW MILTON TOWN 3

New Milton's start was brisk and had us on the back foot. Three consecutive free kicks had Maher on his toes.

Carswell blocked a run into the box and Elsom coolly took the ball off toes in the six yard box as NM pressured.

We rallied. McWilliams linked with Davies and a rising volley was well taken by the New Milton keeper.

22 minutes into the half and Evans did what he does best. Skipping a sliding tackle Evans buried the ball into the bottom corner 1-0.

The rain beat down making the pitch difficult to play on but it seemed to benefit New Milton more than us as an attack finished with a shot leveling the score just before half time. 1-1.

Half Time 1-1

New Milton opened the second half as they did the first. Good attacking football pushing us back.

Powis and Danvers were busy on the flanks but with Elsom sweeping across the back we looked solid despite an increasing slippy surface.

Maher pulled off a great save with 15 on the clock. A sweeping move on the counter finished with Danvers being scythed down and the ref flourishing a red.

A free kick was claimed by Joe Freak and we went ahead 2-1 from a great strike.

Then we had incidents by the dozen. We gave away a penalty and although hotly disputed it stood. 2-2.

Handbags out and looking like some of them had bricks in. The game swung end to end. One New Milton attack led to a runner going free. Out came Maher to make a stunning tackle but his slide continued to the dressing room as the ref waved another red.

On came Cassius Lister to show his keeper skills.

Dickenson suffered a head collision and had to come off for a while to have treatment.

Cooper went close with a shot from the edge of the box followed by a Davies effort from a narrow angle that flew just wide.

The rain was now best described as a deluge. Both sides did well to play under very heavy conditions.

New Milton’s Christmas present came late on with a goal giving them the three points.

We felt robbed of at least a point but gave a spirited effort in very difficult conditions.

Result 2-3.