SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
TUESDAY 24TH MARCH 2009
AMESBURY TOWN 0 VERWOOD TOWN 3

We started well. A long ball out to Amesbury's right was intercepted by Murray. A pass inside to Newbury and a run down the left. Murray followed up and hammered the ball goalward. The keeper did well to catch the effort from skimming into the net.

Our full backs were on form, and overlapping moves kept the home team pinned back.

A long clearance from the Amesbury defence was read well by Lynch and a header to Evans started another raid on the right. Evans went wide of the full back and a sweeping deep cross found Homer. The shot was palmed out by the keeper. Murray collected and went wide, his cross was earmarked for Newbury but the keeper produced another cracking save.

Amesbury then produced a move on their right and split us wide open. The ball was fired low across the box and a forward touched it goalward. This time it was Willis that had to show his qualities as he pounced on the ball before it crossed the line.

It was bright stuff from both sides and at this stage it looked as if the better finishing could come from Amesbury. Willis again had to make a good save and Lynch cleared a couple of efforts from crosses.

17 minutes and Elysee steered the ball across the box. In came Homer to volley a left foot shot past the keeper making it 1-0.

31 minutes a corner drifted to the edge of the box in the wind and a tremendous volley hit the bar and out. Newbury collected the re bound and sparked a quick counter attack. The end result was another good save from the keeper.

46 minutes and Homer went solo with a dazzling run and shot that whipped up the net making it 2-0.

The big question was whether we could maintain the pace and quality. We proved we could but Amesbury had come out with a much different approach and the game see sawed with some excellent football.

53 minutes gone and Evans sent a\way Elysee. A cut back to Reeves opened a gap. The keeper had strayed so Reeves' lob found the all important route to finish up in the back of the net. 3-0.

We pushed forward at every opportunity and in the 62nd minute opened up Amesbury's right flank. Elysee floated a ball over the defence and Reeves headed back to Lanahan. A low shot whipped past the keeper for what we thought was a good goal but a linesman's flag was upheld for an offside.

Martin Newbury's reading of the game meant a tightening of defence and we kept the home team at bay. Persistence though was a hallmark of Amesbury's attitude and several breaks should have been rewarded.

70 minutes gone and some excellent inter passing split us in the middle of the park. The ball was swept wide, a deep cross and a fierce header brought out the best save of the game from Willis.

We were pushed back to the edge of the box but managed to get bodies between Amesbury's forwards and our goal.

Lynch and Newbury were solid. Elysee and Murray achieved a blockage to Amesbury on both flanks.

We survived the pressure and got ourselves back on top. Homer enjoyed a bit of freedom and Newbury's running off the ball was a major plus as we pulled the home side's defence out of shape. Elysee and Dyer cracked a couple of good efforts and a Lynch header went over the bar.

The closing stages still had both teams looking for goals so the crowd on a cold and windy night had something to stay for.

The referee blew on a 3-0 win.