WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 9TH APRIL 2022
FOLLAND SPORTS 5 VERWOOD TOWN 0

Follands needed three points to stay in contention for promotion. We had pride to play for.

In the first ten minutes we were under the cosh. Broad blocked a run in the first minute as the ball was pumped down the flank. His clearance was chased down and another long ball was launched into our area. This time Phillips ploughed through bodies to take the catch.

A few blistering minutes followed but our back four held tight and gradually played our way out of the onslaught.

Hocton intercepted a line ball and linking with Hall carved out an attack on the left. A good cross found Bradley and a good cross was cleared by the Follands backs.

Quarchioni broke through but his resultant shot hit the side netting.

Follands switched play from the flanks to a more central approach but ran into ‘in form’ Stock and Hall.

Sumers and Smith were solid as we weathered Follands attacks. Up front Carswell worked hard but we fired blanks in front of the sticks.

26 minutes saw a sharp counter from Follands after Bradley had a shot cleared. A long ball again for runners this time paid off and we went 0-1 down.

A Quarchioni effort was beaten out a couple of minutes later as we pushed on to grab an equaliser. Another long ball for runners was launched but Sumers strong tackle stopped the run on goal.

We were now competing well but didn’t have the finishing touch. It stayed with Follands ahead on the whistle.

Half Time. 0-1

It was an even game in the first 15 minutes but we then suffered a couple of injuries that influenced an opportunity for Follands to make it 0-2. Phillips suffered yet again a hamstring pull and had to come off. Viney took the gloves.

We hadn’t settled when we fell to a set piece well engineered giving the home team a healthy cushion. 0-3

No heads dropped but we were on the back foot. Managers Darren Shepherd and Danny Tabor opted to give a bit of game time to the bench and Wilcox came on for Nace. Taylor Sumers swapped roles with Ollie Wilson.

We lapsed concentration for a while and suffered two more goals before the final whistle.

Although the score line looked like an easy ride for Follands the general consensus of opinion was that we performed well and a closer score line would have been correct.

Good luck to Follands though in their quest for Prem football next season.

Result. 0-5.