WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2022
VERWOOD TOWN 1 HAMWORTHY RECREATION 3

A dreamy Verwood defence gave a dream start to Visitors Hamworthy Recreation. 2 minutes gone and lackadaisical marking in the box gave space for HR to score from close in. 0-1.

Absences gave cause for several shuffles of the formation, but the quality on the pitch should have settled earlier than they did.

Back pedalling for twenty minutes and a couple of narrow escapes elapsed before we got to grips. Carswell and McWilliams prompted the recovery and it was a McWilliams run down the left that opened up the visitors defence for Burpitt to connect with a low cross sending the ball just wide of the post.

Hamworthy’s response was a long ball down their right, a high cross into the area giving Coombes a chance to show good hands.

Davis sparked an attack after dispossessing a marauding forward but again the finishing touch in front of the sticks was missing.

We grabbed a high percentage of attacking football for the rest of the half with Kerr and Broom showing a good link in central defence.

5 minutes to go though we became benefactors of a second goal for HR with a back pass leaving Coombes stranded and the ball rolling gently for a runner to tap in. 0-2

Half time. 0-2.

We made a good start to the second half with Burpitt and McWilliams working the left leaving Burpitt going free to shoot inches past the post.

Storey followed suit with a rasping shot over the bar but it looked as if we couldn’t break the poor finishing that blighted the performance.

Stock came off after12 minutes to give Canham a run.

A break down HR left had the ball in the box and a blatant hand ball gave control to the player. No whistle. The ball finished up in the net. An unjustified 0-3.

No heads dropped and within a couple of minutes we had Mason slamming a shot just wide and Burpitt again firing over the bar.

Kerry suffered injury with 33 minutes gone and came off for Ponder to make his debut.

Good football in the last 5 minutes resulted in Canham cutting across Hamworthy’s ‘s box and delivering a looping chip from the corner of the area.

The keeper was well beaten and the score board reflected a sublime effort 1-3.

We fought hard to grab another but the whistle went on a Hamworthy win.

Result. 1-3.