SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 16TH AUGUST 2008
AFC ALDERMASTON 0 VERWOOD TOWN 0

James Finlay looking for a come back was absolutely gutted when his knee gave way again in the warm up. It looks as if we will have to do without him for quite some weeks to come. Steve Moore had to sit it out with a hamstring pull but we still had a good squad.

1min 33 secs and we almost went behind as we allowed Aldermaston the freedom of the park and a cross from the right went straight through the heart of the defence in the box and only Elysee had presence of mind to divert the ball from being turned in. It was a warning shot that went unheeded.

Aldermaston gave 100% honest endeavour but luckily couldn't finish. Had they had that ability on the day we would have been a couple down in the first ten minutes.

The back four worked hard. They had to. Willis also was attentive so we kept the sheet clean.

For twenty minutes of the half neither side offered a threat. Aldermaston's keeper could have knitted a jumper completely undisturbed. The home side effort continued. Ours disappeared. It became a definite cure for insomniacs.

25 minutes gone and we developed an attack. We weren't quite sure what to do with it so we lobbed the ball wide of the post.

Stephen's stormed down the left. A cracking cross was allowed to go untouched. Dyer crossed from the right, we didn't bother to follow up.

Elysee won a couple of tackles in succession and sped away down the right. A cross…….you guessed it……a throw in for the home side on the far side.

Half Time 0-0.

2 minutes. Homer cut in from the left and a shot flashed across the face of goal and was turned away for a corner. In it came from Cousins but the keeper fisted the ball to safety.

2 minutes later we got caught pushing up and a break through the middle was halted by an Elysee sliding tackle, timed to perfection.

Goodall sprang to life with 54 minutes gone. A chip over the defender and in came Stephens to deliver a great cross. Goodall was inches from scoring. Was this the spark we were looking for?

We drifted again. Aldermaston picked up where they left off in the first half. Honest endeavour but unable to make impact in the goal stakes. The game became a drudge.

A mistake in the 67th minute made the crowd believe it was going to lift tempo. Keighley won the ball just outside the box. A lay back and Arnold blasted a shot hitting a bunch of defenders. That was it.

The crowd settled back into comatose state.

Lynch cleared a long ball from our area. Aldermaston's keeper slammed it back. Stephens booted it for their corner. The full back gave the dropping ball no chance to land. Up it went again. Arnold got under it and headed it forward. The ball was again airborne. Cousins snapped a piece of grass to chew as he waited.

It continued unabated, poor football from both teams, the ball being given away constantly. There was no doubt in anyone's mind watching that it was heading for a draw.

A late chance for Aldermaston was stopped in full flow by an Elysee brilliant sliding tackle.

The referee did everyone a favour blowing up for full time.

Result 0-0.