VELOCITY WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2024
VERWOOD TOWN 5 COVE 1

We had a goal fest in the first half and a barren landscape in the second.

Cove led first with a goal after only 7 minutes but their celebrations were short lived when McHale jinked past a defender and curled a right footer into the top right hand corner a minute later. 1-1.

The game had opened with Cove on the front foot and sheer presence in the box following a flurry of long balls into the area resulted in a goal scored from a melee and daisy cutter from just inside the penalty area. 0-1.

Pushing up for a second cost them the lead. We maintained possession and produced good football stemming from Danvers and Smith on the left and Brazier and Broad on the right.

Whitelaw was unlucky not to increase the tally with a great strike that hit the foot of the post and skimmed out.

Cove continued route one. Another high ball was contested by a bundle of players. Matt Davis won the duel but suffered a suspected broken nose. An immediate substitution was made with Joe Flachi making a bow.

21 on the clock and McHale hit his second of the game seizing on an opportunity of a loose ball in the box, 2-1

Cove hit back with some good attacking moves but Pope and Smith supported by Danvers and Ferguson kept play outside the area, Long efforts were well covered by Mitchell.

26 gone and we broke through on the right. A low ball from our right skimmed across the goal line. White nipped in to hammer the ball past the keeper making it 3-1.

We were now well on top enjoying the majority of possession. Inevitably a 4th followed when Flachi made ground on the right. Cutting in to the angle of the area Flachi’s low shot whipped past the keeper and into the bottom corner. 4-1.

4 minutes to go and Whitelaw converted a half chance to send us in at half time with a nap hand.

Half Time 5-1.

Cove’s dressing room must have been steeped in Adrenalin. An attack from the whistle had our cross bar rattling. A follow up from mid field had Mitchell showing good hands.

Coves attacking flair continued. Ferguson and Pope dealt with a flurry of aerial crosses with Danvers and Ferguson shoring up the flanks.

Braziers influence came to a halt because of a sliding tackle rolling an ankle. On came Kay one for one.

We gradually got our possession back and almost made it six when Broad won the ball in our third and outpaced his markers to confront an advancing keeper. Good feet took him past the keeper, but his shot went high over the bar.

Kay suffered a belly flop as a fierce tackle took his legs. Jon Brewer and Sam Doherty (Dynamic Physios) had him back on his feet after a few minutes. Smith delivered the fee kick on to the penalty spot but Cove won the header clearing the ball upfield.

The game continued end to end.

34 gone and White made way for Kerr.

Injuries and other stoppages made it a 50 minute half. No further changes to the score board left us with a 5-1 win and an invaluable 3 points.

Result 5-1