SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
WEDNESDAY 26TH AUGUST 2009
VERWOOD TOWN 1 AMESBURY TOWN 2

A quick raid, a ball behind Lynch, and a shot that could have been an early nail our coffin. Fawcett fortunately was extra alert and made a good save low to his right. Only two minutes had elapsed. We took heed of the warning and got tighter with our marking.

Homer skipped past a tackle after receiving a line ball from Murray. He was closed down quickly and forced wide. A cut back ball found Lanahan. On to Newbery and a chip into the box allowed Truan space to try a shot at goal. The side netting was the recipient of the ball.

The game was fast and direct. Truan and Newbery worked hard to prise open the Amesbury back line. A well drilled defence kept tight and we floundered looking for that all important gap.

A double corner for Amesbury and a climb that we couldn't match resulted in a bullet header flying past Fawcett. 0-1.

We applied pressure and a couple of chances went begging. The nearest shaved the post...wrong side.

At this stage Amesbury had the edge and looked a shade sharper. Evans and Lynch were superb as constant attacks arrowed in to the box. Fawcett's chat at the back was well received and we survived unrelenting pressure.

39 minutes gone and after a brief spell of attacking moves we found space on the left. Homer centred across the edge of the area. Lanahan's low shot skipped past a packed defence and the keeper to level the score 1-1.

Both sides kept their attacking style to the end and keepers were busy as varied shots were tried from outside and inside the box.

The half finished 1-1.

6 minutes gone of the second half and Lanahan had a glorious chance to improve our goal tally but the shot...on target...was blocked and hammered clear.

Amesbury continued where they left off and pushed forward. Shots were frequent but we held disciplines and Fawcett again was in excellent form. There's a saying .'cometh the man' Fawcett was the man. A brilliant presence kept the ball out of the back of the net and constant chat kept our defence on their toes.

We got half way through the half when a bit of tiredness crept in. What balls we did try to progress through the team found their way to the opposition making it easier for them to push us further back.

22 minutes and a free kick of low trajectory sped through the defensive wall and finished up in the back of the net 1-2.

There wasn't enough fight in the side to bring us back into the game and Amesbury continued their pressure. We lost the middle of the park and what attacks we engineered we couldn't finish the job with a goal. In fact Amesbury's keeper wasn't over active at all.

70 minutes and a slip in our visitors defence let in Dyer, but in keeping with our general performance the ball went straight to the keeper.

3 minutes later Elysee climbed high to head clear but clashed heads. Blood poured and the game was held up for five minutes as treatment took place. Adie shuffled the pack and made a substitution. On came Williams for Newbery. Jones came on for Elysee.

It didn't make much difference, Amesbury kept up the pace and we couldn't match them on this occasion.

Homer had a brilliant last couple of minutes but the final result was a win for Amesbury 1-2.