SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2009
VERWOOD TOWN 0 FARNBOROUGH NORTH END 2

A day and a half after our biggest win of the season we faced a Farnborough side, five spots above us in the table and producing some good results.

Adie Arnold and Nigel Reeves stood by the side that did so well on Thursday night. The bench had Lynch Freeman Beverley and Newbury glued to it.

Homer made inroads down the left a quick cross and Chivers just missed connecting two yards out from goal.

A flash of tempers 5 minutes into the game and handbags were brandished. As the saying goes 'It was six of one and half a dozen of the other'. It started to escalate but luckily the players themselves sorted out the disagreement.

Play was fragmented. Petty fouls took their toll. The crowd felt the referee had 'lost it'. The feeling was summed up when one punter asked the ref loudly if he knew Mystic Megs number so he would know at what point something of significance would enter URANUS.

Farnborough strung good play together for a lengthy spell and we were on the backfoot. Arnold and Giles held firm and both Murray and Evans were on top of their game.

At the other end we went close with a Der effort and then Goodall swung a boot at a cross that resulted in a tree being topped.

25 minutes was a turning point in the game. Goodall and a defender went for a loose ball. Boots were up. Both players then became a bit fractious. The ref entered the fray up went a red card and off came Goodall. The half steadily deteriorated but was devoid of goals.

Half Time 0-0

Tactical re shape meant Dean Evans making way for Chris Lynch and Paul Arnold moving into a more central midfield role.

Farnborough carried the first part of the half to us and everyone in the side had to graft hard to keep the sheet clean. Fawcett pulled of a stunning save diving to his right to take a full blooded volley.

Dyer and Reeves couldn't break Farnborough's back four. Passes were intercepted and ranks were closed very efficiently.

Homer and Chivers had a couple of shots but the keeper wasn't really troubled.

61 minutes we went close. Murray sparked a move after a good tackle. A raking ball to Homer put Homer free on the left. Murray made ground and took the return. Back to Homer, a good cross but the keeper made a great catch.

Elysee and Dyer linked up with 17 minutes left but yet again Farnborough's defence held tight.

12 minutes left and we gave away a free kick on the edge of the box. The ball whistled past Fawcett. 0-1.

We wilted slightly but tried hard. Lynch was now busier than at any period of the half but was ably supported by an inform Ben 'Bling' Giles.

Dyer and Reeves battled away and Reeves raced on to a Dyer through ball this time to outstrip the centre half. Out came the keeper and made a timely save.

We pushed up and pressurised for an equaliser. A long clearance caught us out and 90 minutes on the clock saw a left flank cross whip into the box and be diverted past Fawcett for Farnborough's second goal.

The half had been littered with petty fouls stopping what could have been a good footballing spectacle….

FINAL SCORE…0-2.