SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 2008
HYTHE & DIBDEN vs VERWOOD TOWN (MATCH ABANDONED)

Non stop heavy rain met the teams as they came out. Floodlights were already on as dark skies heralded yet more of the same stuff.

Hythe looked brisk as they opened an attack on the right. A low ball across the middle was pushed away by Fawcett towards Elysee. A line ball allowed Dyer a run but a strong tackle took him and the ball over the line for a throw in.

Hythe's passing and movement was much better than ours but we were settling quickly. Faulkner stopped a central raid and then Butler blocked a shot on the edge of the area as Hythe tried for the early break.

Their luck was in with 12 minutes gone. A ball wide right was carried into the box and Butler collided on the skiddy pitch with the runner. The ref pointed to the spot and then produced a red card. Harsh would be a very much understatement. The ball was slammed past Fawcett into the net. 0-1.

A shuffle of positions so early in the game meant we were on the backfoot for a long period but we tried to play football in terrible conditions. With 38 minutes gone persistence paid off and Paul Arnold's run into the Hythe area was stopped short by a strong tackle. The ref gave a penalty!!!! Goodall mirrored the Hythe scorer…1-1.

The rain by now was hammering down. A high cross from Homer on the left looked as if it was a wasted effort but a bit of telepathy between Homer and Goodall paid off as Goodall shot out of a puddle on the edge of the box and shedding his snorkel slammed a cracking volley goal wards. The home keeper, obviously a Water Polo champion rose like a salmon to tip the ball over the bar, The corner was headed clear.

Fawcett made a great save in the dying seconds to send us in…1-1.

The rain had continued its downpour and by now big puddles were evident.

The teams kicked off and Hythe punted the ball wide for the runner. This time though the ball dropped with a splat and no bounce, it gave time for Cousins to slide in and take the ball over the line, away from danger.

Lynch benefitting from his Lycra swimming gear put on at half time cleared a couple of high balls but his crawl stroke wasn't enough with 6 minutes gone as the ball squirmed past him and the centre forward powered a volley that Fawcett did well to punch clear.

Arnold linked with Goodall and then Homer as we pushed forward. The ball then went wide and Goodall raced free. A low cross whipped past the full back and Homer brought the ball under control only for the keeper to drop on the ball at feet making a great save.

Fawcett then performed a double save from an attack as Hythe hit back. The area was holding water and the ball wasn't running properly. The slowing up had players mistiming shots and fortunately one of those should have produced a goal had it not plopped in front of Fawcett to make an easy pick up.

Another ball out wide with 14 minutes on the clock held up in a puddle and the flank swimmer went clear of Faulkner, driving the ball low into the box. A simple tap in was the result and the score line moved to 1-2.

Goodall almost had the scores level with a drive from the right but it flew past the post. A minute later the same scenario but this time Goodall's drive was aimed for Homer on the edge of the box. The keeper made a great save, diving in at the deep end and stopping the ball but creating a mini Tsunami that Cousins disappeared in.

Another minute and a long ball out to the left gave Hythe's left flank an opening for a run at goal. A good strong tackle in the six foot end stopped him….but…the ref gave a penalty. 1-3. A travesty.

Then…the ref abandoned the game…...had he lost his flippers??