SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 2009
VERWOOD TOWN 2 HAMBLE ASSC 0

A sign of intent was 3 minutes gone and a header hit the top of our bar and skipped over. We rallied. Elysee chipped a ball down the line and away went Dyer. Cutting inside Russ slipped a square ball to Lima. A pass inside the mid field found Homer. A quick cross found Lima following up, and a ground pass freed up Lovell. Lovell's snap shot had the keeper scrambling but the save kept the sheet clean.

Hamble made us play. They were good on the ball and created some excellent moves. Our strength in the first twenty minutes was in the form of Chris Lynch. Constant balls into the box were mopped up and not too much troubled Fawcett.

Lovell was pulled up a couple of times for extra strong challenges as we pressed forward. Jameson trundled through a couple of tackles and the released Dyer. Dyer cut inside and tried a long distance effort but the ball finished up in the trees.

24 minutes saw us breaking into Hamble's box. A shot from Homer was blocked. It spun out to Lima and a left foot shot had the keeper stranded but flew just over the bar.

32 minutes Newbery went wide, a low cross and Homer's volley went wide.

Hamble's approach work was excellent. A move down their right, a cross headed away by Lynch and then a volley that Fawcett caught just under the bar.

Murray cleared the next intrusion into our area and a long ball released Lovell. Lovell fired wide.

A couple of minutes to go and we thought Arnold would have put his name on the sheet but the keeper did extremely well and kept Hamble's defensive strategy intact.

Half time.0-0.

47 minutes saw both Homer and Arnold go close with shots from just outside the box, but 6 minutes later Arnold's header across the box from a corner was palmed out of the goal mouth. Newbury's predatory instinct paid off as he headed the ball into the roof of the net. 1-0.

Lovell hit a volley two minutes later that was well saved. Hamble retaliated with a good move on the left. A terrific shot was thumped away by Fawcett.

Hamble switched play away from the central areas and a couple of breaks on the flanks caused problems. Corners were won and we defended desperately as Hamble went for the equaliser. A header was clawed out from under the bar by Fawcett. Jamieson headed a dangerous cross out of the area and then Murray made a cracking tackle to stop the next threat.

Then a slice of luck as Hamble broke away and had the ball in the net only to be disappointed by an offside flag.

It was a lucky escape but another through ball split us open and this time it was a one on one that Fawcett won.

A 20 yard shot cleared our bar and then a cross shot hit the side netting. One last clear chance occurred as we closed the door when the ball was fired wide from only 10 yards.

We closed ranks and pushed forward with Lima and Arnold tightening their grip on the midfield. Jamieson and Lynch had shut off the central area and with Elysee and Murray on form we looked more solid this week than we had for the last few games.

68 minutes and Lovell had to come off for Oxygen. Lanahan moved into the attacking format. Only a minute had elapsed when he picked off stray ball and an inch perfect pass reached Lima. Lima's brilliant piece of play on the edge of the box gave space for a left foot shot. The keeper was well beaten but the ball finished up shaving the post....wrong side.

Truan came on for Newbery. The change of style almost had a goal but a despairing tackle tweaked the ball away from the line.

Homer's constant knocking on the door paid off with 3 minutes to go. A low hard cross was deflected into the net. OG had struck again and the game finished with a well earned three points.

Win 2-0