VELOCITY WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 16TH MARCH 2024
VERWOOD TOWN 1 ASH UNITED 4

It was a grim opening spell in terms of good football. The ball hardly touched the floor in the first 15 minutes. We made a couple of chances but as usual couldn’t find the net. Ash defended ‘en bloc’ and made sure the ball didn’t stay anywhere near the area. We followed the trait. Accurate passing was none existent.

20 gone McHale Danvers and Pope opened up Ash on their right with good movement, but the finish was a typical shot sailing over the angle.

Ash relied on counter and went close a couple of times as runners found space. Mitchell did well collecting difficult balls hammered into the area but couldn’t do anything when with 25 minutes gone, another launch dropped just behind defence and a runner stole in to put the ball in the bottom corner. 0-1.

Pope was the busiest of defenders coping with challenging headers down the middle of the park, but with 5 minutes left of the half we buckled allowing another loose ball travel across the face of the goal. A toe poke made it 0-2.

45 minutes we gained a corner. A scramble in the area and Broad pounced to slam a daisy cutter into the bottom corner. 1-2.

Half Time 1-2

First minute and Smith was busy heading clearer another high ball into the box. Pope then produced a carbon copy.

We seemed to have lost the qualities of the last few weeks and Ash took full advantage of our lethargy.

Luckily a lot of Ash efforts flew high and wide. We managed a few rallies with Harrison Whitelaw and namesake Callum going close but unable to hit the back of the net.

Mitchell again was the busiest in defence but half way through the half couldn’t prevent a third for Ash as we went AWOL at the back and yet another single runner made it 1-3.

We made substitutions. Richardson on for Whitelaw C on 20 minutes White making way for Hockey on 22 minutes. Brazier taking a rest allowing Hoey a first outing on 28 minutes and Kerr came on for Flachi with 7 minutes left.

We had a reasonable ten minutes before the final whistle but couldn’t do what Ash did on 43 minutes…score.

The game finished with 3 points taken by Ash Utd with a 1-4 result.

Result 1-4.