SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST 2009
SHAFTESBURY 0 VERWOOD TOWN 5

Shaftesbury's recent results had to be disregarded. The start though wasn't what we expected. It was scrappy, it became long ball game and on a pitch that when we tried to play on the deck was very slow.

We had to wait 15 minutes for the first bit of football to take place and it was a threaded ball from Anderton to Homer that created a flowing move. Homer slipped the ball behind a central defender and in raced Truan. The ball bobbled as Truan made his shot. Tesco's night manager watched the missile soar over their roof top.

4 minutes later Truan extracted revenge. Wresting the ball from the centre half Truan raced away to confront the keeper. His shot was blocked by the keeper's legs. The rebound fell kindly and Truan took option to smash the ball into the bottom corner of the net. 1-0.

Truan thought he had broken through again minutes later but was held back by the centre half who appeared to have his hand down Truan's shorts. Truan's brief smile was wiped out as he realised another goal opportunity had passed.

The crowd then witnessed a game of mixed quality. It wasn't good to watch. We made the running but Shaftesbury always looked dangerous on the break.

What made the first half worth being there was the banter from both lots of spectators. The linesman also benefitted greatly from learning when to apply the flag.

Fawcett had to keep alert as Shaftesbury pulled themselves together with ten minutes of the half remaining. Sweeping moves down the right caused trouble for Murray. We had enough determination at the back though to defend well and what shots were made were either blocked or well covered.

A minute of the half left and Shaftesbury had an open goal opportunity and muffed it. The whistle went ........1-0.

We came out with a lot more determination in the second half. Truan again proved to be the spearhead and with an industrious Newbery alongside we managed to stretch the Shaftesbury back four creating space for Homer and Dyer.

50 minutes and Truan popped up on the right. A low hard cross evaded the keeper but not Homer. A left foot shot put us two up.

Shaftesbury looked a bit jaded and we stepped up the pace. Lanahan came on for Anderton after 60 minutes and was soon in the thick of things breaking in from the right to see his cross reach Dyer but for the ball to finish up in the side netting.

A splurge of activity from Shaftesbury followed and we were suddenly on the back foot. Lynch and Evans were over extended but luckily we had Elysee and Murray on form and we kept the sheet clean.

71 minutes and Newbery raced into the area only for the keeper to bring him down. Newbery took the penalty himself to put us three up.

A couple of minutes later Faulkner eased himself from the bench for Arnold to have a breather.

Fawcett then had to make a brilliant save as a smash and grab effort could have reduced the score line.

75 minutes Truan crossed from the right and Newbery slid in to turn the ball over the line for our fourth of the game.

Homer's effort shortly after was well saved and we then had another spate of Shaftesbury togetherness as they attacked at every opportunity playing some good foot ball and forcing us to defend in numbers.

Fawcett clawed one shot from under the bar and then Lynch blocked a point blank effort from crossing the line.

Elysee turned away a corner and Murray hoofed another shot out of the area.

We hit back in the last few minutes and a great break allowed Homer to apply a clinical finish to give us a 5-0 result.