VELOCITY WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST 2024
VERWOOD TOWN 2 CLANFIELD 2

Two minutes old and a corner went unchallenged…0-1. A disastrous start.

Clanfield’s onslaught continued but we gradually recovered and made a game of it.

We had a few changes to the squad and line up and needed time to adjust. Clanfield spotted hesitancies and benefitted from having our need to defend. We had a few counters mainly from clearances but did not capitalise.

Clanfield’s direct football kept the defence at full stretch and both Fletcher and Brazier did well to keep flanks in check.

Grzybowksi caught the eye with a nonstop performance linking well with the forward line. We engineered a few openings but couldn’t capitalise and put the ball in the net.

The half closed on a scrappy game and Clanfield ahead 0-1.

Half Time 0-1

From the whistle it looked like we were due a replica of our first half performance with Clanfield on the attack and floating a dangerous cross into the 6 yard box. Mitchell climbed above the clutch of bodies to fist clear.

Brazier and Jones made a couple of crucial tackles to prevent us going further behind.

Despite our ragged play we worked hard and it paid off.

10 minutes gone and we pushed on. Whitelaw and Bentley worked the right flank and a good low cross into the box was turned just past the post by White.

Jones won a strong tackle on the edge of the box and a good ball found Bentley in space. A ball wide collected by Grzybowski finished on the roof of the net with the keeper beaten.

We pressured and on 62 minutes had had a couple of shots in and out of the box half cleared before White muscled in on the near post to make it 1-1.

The goal was thoroughly deserved due to the increased level of performance. 8 minutes later Baker Stroud hit a curling left foot shot over the keeper into the roof of the net. 1-2.

Clanfield hit back with a retaliatory ten minute spell of attacking football but we absorbed what they had and almost increased our lead with a Buggey shot the keeper had difficulty holding.

One minute left of normal time and a counter attack saw Clanfield make it 2-2. The game finished after a second half of 51 minutes and both sides sharing the spoils.

Result 2-2