VELOCITY WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2024
VERWOOD TOWN 4 COVE 4

Hockey’s brace, Bentley and Bignell’s contributions plus a sterling second half performance gave spectators a great game to watch.

Cove management left in disappointment but so did Verwood’s.

It was Déjà Vu for 20 minutes before we settled down. Slack marking, giving away space and slow movement gave Cove a happy start.

We were under pressure from the kick off. Defensively we coped with Phillips showing good hands and JJ covering a long ball threat. We buckled on 15 minutes allowing a cross from their right to drop into the box and a failure to clear left an easy chance or Cove to go ahead 0-1.

Two minutes later we had our first substitution. Richardson pulled a hamstring giving Callum Whitelaw a need to leave the bench.

Cove’s long ball a couple of minutes later was cleared by Bignell but the ball was lost midfield and another missile launch this time went unchecked leaving space for Cove to notch their second of the game. 0-2.

We had looked lethargic but rather than heads drop we picked up and got back into the game.

An attack down Cove’s left was brought to an abrupt halt by a Kerr strong tackle. A line ball found Hockey. Half a chance presented itself and Hockey slammed a daisy cutter past the keeper to send us in at half time 1-2.

Half Time 1-2.

We looked sharper and hungry for the ball at the start of the second half. Pope and Whitelaw worked hard to link up and with 8 minutes gone opened up space for Grzybowski to force a corner. Bignell pounced on a half clearance and grabbed his second of the season .. 2-2.

Recent games have been sedate in terms of our application. Not so this time. Good marking, eagerness for the ball led to a threaded pass through the middle. Bentley’s volley whipped past the keeper…. 3-2.

The turn around continued. Hockey grabbed his second following up good pressure from mid field, 4-2.

10 minutes left and Cove’s attempts to reduce arrears worked as the ball was pumped into the box from a free kick. A clearance off the line hit a bunch of players. The re bound fell nicely for conversion. 4-3.

Then came a nail biting last ten minutes with an added 5 for injuries.

Cove spurred on by their third goal and an excitable bench, threw everything forward.

One minute left, Cove had a penalty awarded following a Phillips save at feet. Protests waved aside, it stood.

In keeping with the day’s events Phillips made a stunning save but the Cove forwards were sharper to the ball and scored their equaliser. 4-4. The whistle blew a minute later

. Result. 4-4..