VELOCITY WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2024
VERWOOD TOWN 2 WHITCHURCH UNITED 0

Whitchurch’s new management team and a squad overhaul seem to have positively influenced their recent results. It was an interesting test to our own development.

As expected Whitchurch pressed from the whistle. A high ball into the box followed in aggressively. John was under the ball to clear but only temporarily. Switching to a line ball wide to their right brought Fletcher into the game. Again we cleared the area and countered for a Knott Whitelaw exchange resulting in a corner. The keeper did well to claw the ball away from the far post.

The game continued at a fast pace. Both defences were stretched in keeping clean sheets.

Middle of the park saw Brazier and Bentley gaining more possession. A wide ball from Brazier cut through bodies and Hockey seized a half chance to put us ahead from close in. 1-0.

A minute later and it was Bentley’s turn to place a telling cross into the 6 yard box. A Pope volley was unstoppable. 2-0. 17 minutes gone.

We pressed and Whitelaw almost made it three with a rasping shot whistling inches past the post.

Whitchurch rallied. Extra energy and good football brought matching effort making it good to watch.

The half finished with Toby Dinnivan making a great diving save to send us in with a clean sheet and two ahead.

Half Time 2-0

Whitchurch’s half time chat put more zest in their opening spell. Pressure put us on the back foot for a while but defensively we held tight with Bignell John and Pope coping with central runs and Kerr and Fletcher curbing flank attacks.

We lost ground half way through the half. Our energy level dropped and almost cost us going behind as Whitchurch went close to scoring on a couple of occasions, but denied a score board change by an athletic Dinnivan.

Brazier made way for Grzybowski on 15 minutes and McGinty came on for Knott on 34 minutes.

We had skirmishes in both boxes towards the final whistle but thoroughly deserved the score line.

Result 2-0.