WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
TUESDAY 18TH JANUARY 2022
ROMSEY TOWN 5 VERWOOD TOWN 0

We were totally unprepared for Romsey’s opening salvo. We were on the back foot immediately from the kick off with Romsey threading their way through a static defence.

It took only 3 minutes for the scoreboard to rattle up a Romsey goal. O’Connor blocked the first shot but the rebound was smashed in giving Romsey the lead. 0-1

We weathered the next attack with Broad winning a strong tackle. A wide, long ball for Davies was just a bit too far and the keeper was out quickly to punt upfield.

There came a few minutes of possession with Broad and Smith linking up. A high ball intended for Nace was intercepted and Romsey countered through the middle. A wide ball left and a cut back from the bye line was volleyed on goal but O’Connor made a great save palming the ball away but with no cover in the box the rebound followed their third minute goal making it 0-2.

A buoyant Romsey made it 0-3 with a penalty 4 minutes later.

We looked a lost cause. Retaliation was spasmodic. Davies and Evans worked hard to break through but struggled to get past a solid home team defence.

Carswell had a shot blocked on the edge of the box following a Danvers Browning move but we had no real threat to offer.

25 minutes we gave a way a free kick. The ball floated gently into the box and an unmarked player slipped the ball past O’Connor for number 4.

With 15 minutes left of the half we strung together a couple of attacks mainly through Davies Evans and Carswell but the backing up left a lot to be desired.

Half Time 0-4

The second half looked as though it would be a repeat of the first and a bench fear was a Guinness book of records score line.

30 seconds gone and O’Connor saved a low cross into the box. A minute later Broad’s strong tackle stopped another shot but there were signs of a recovery.

Danvers was impacting on our left and a good run and cross finished with an Evans shot being blocked on the edge of the box.

Romsey countered. Hall was on hand to stop a run down their left and Cooper did well to shuttle back and help the clearance.

11 minutes gone and Davies turned an ankle having to make way for Hunt to make an appearance.

Browning’s tackle on 13 minutes gave away a free kick. A high ball on the back stick looked dangerous but a good strong Smith header cleared the danger.

We looked more cohesive for a while but the let down was a poor quality of passing. We gave gave away too many balls allowing Romsey a high possession advantage.

Matt Vining came on for Josh Nace on 23 minutes.

40 gone Danvers and Vining worked the ball to the edge of the box and a good cross gave Carswell a chance of a shot. It went wide but at least we had had a shot !!!

We continued improving. Our back four worked hard to contain lively forwards but efforts to attack were blunted by Romsey’s defence.

We suffered by pushing too far up and on 45 minutes gave Romsey a free run on goal.. 0-5.

Result 0-5