SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 27TH MARCH 2010
EAST COWES VICTORIA 2 VERWOOD TOWN 0

We had a strong squad for this game at Vics. What a surprise though to see that an equivalent to a Mole Convention at Glastonbury had enjoyed the pitch. Still as the old cliché says...It's the same for both sides'.

Rossgarth U 11's would have adapted quicker than Verwood First team. It wanted less carpet football and more route one. An IQ of half a point led us to try carpet football. 10 minutes gone a free kick from the right floated into our box and a quick nod of the head meant we were one down.

We rallied. Evans and Homer combined to break through a tight Vics defence a side foot pass found Baguley but Baguley couldn't find the net. Vics hit back with a long ball down the right. Evans was stranded as the ball was fired low across the area. Jamison blocked the danger and a wide ball to Newbery created a counter attack. Baguley collected the through ball and a cute chip found Homer steaming in. A left foot shot was well taken by the keeper.

25 minutes and another combined effort from Homer and Evans split the home defence but a timely header cleared danger for a corner. An inswinger was well read by Lynch but his header went over the bar.

Vics were enjoying most possession and with 30 minute of the half gone went clean through a static defence to rifle the ball past Fawcett for a 0-2 score line.

How we were giving away so much possession and having such a laid back approach to the game was mystifying

We found a couple of holes in the home sides defence with five minutes remaining but couldn't find the net.

Half time doldrums came with the score 0-2.

Half time chats were vitriolic. Adie tested the quality of the door hinges leaving the players to develop sore throats.

We kicked off the second half looking more determined.

5 minutes and Homer had a shot blocked, Vics went on a breakaway but Elysee was quickly across to stop the threat.

Jamison collected Elysee's pass and a slide rule ball found Newbery. Cutting in from the right Newbery squared for Baguley but a topped shot made it easy for the keeper.

We were playing a bit better now but Vics upped their own performance and it made for a better spectators game in the second half.

Fawcett pulled off a couple of good saves and Dyer's impact in the middle of the park had much more significance.

Baguley's volley half way through the half was brilliantly saved by the home keeper. A quick throw down the Vics right and it was Evans who saved the threat of a goal with a sliding tackle near the flag. A long throw was steered away from our area by Lynch. A long ball wide to Homer a deep cross and in steamed Newbery to hammer the ball wide of the post,

Back came Vics and this time it was Elysee's turn to deflect a goal bound shot for a corner. In came the cross and Jamison rose high to head clear.

Tired legs became evident as the game slowed so for the last ten minutes we had a ping pong game as both teams tried route one.

5 minutes left and it was Elysee again sliding across the edge of the six yard box deflecting a shot that kept the score at 0-2.

It was quite coming back but 11 keel hauled players didn't mean anyone was up for Russ Dyers karaoke.

Final score 0-2.