SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION 1
SATURDAY 28TH AUGUST 2010
VERWOOD TOWN 2 HORNDEAN 5

We still had a bundle missing from the squad and added to the list was Paul Stephens. We felt though we had a reasonable chance of picking up a few points from the game as we had turned in a reasonable performance against Pewsey and had a good squad on the day.

The game was only a minute old and a delivery from the right gave Mike Haskell a chance only 3 feet off the line, but a topped ball bounce gently into the hands of the keeper.

3 ½ minutes gone and Newbery wriggled his way into the area. Cutting in to the edge of the 6 yard box Newbery shaped to shoot but was robbed of the opportunity of connecting with the ball as the full back touched it away. Newbery tried to retrieve it but was denied the chance.

4 minutes gone and pressure paid off. A corner swung in, up went Haskell to plant the ball in the top corner. 1-0.

We were well on top. Homer and Arnold had shots cleared and then Haskell blasted a shot just over.

Hordean's retaliation was late in coming. They pushed us back deep and it gave opportunities for shots on goal. Delaney and Smith kept a solid look and Kelly / Dear in full back spots looked comfortable. It was the approach work not being cut out that caused the headache. Nevertheless we absorbed the pressure and hit back.

Homer and Newbery had shots blocked and Homer almost broke the barrier with a volley the keeper spilled but re gathered at the second attempt and before Haskell could get a toe to it.

A flurry of attacks on our goal followed but we looked solid and not too much troubled.

The half finished 1-0...it should have been more.

We felt confident at the start of the second half that we would grab a couple more goals and go on to pick up three points. While we were still celebrating winning the toss and scoring the only goal of the first half, Hordean strung together a few passes, slipped past our midfield and drew level with a simple goal. 1-1.

8 minutes later a dubious penalty decision meant Horndean taking the lead. 1-2.

4 minutes later they went three up as we ambled through the game.

3 minutes after the third drifted in we massively cocked up and defenders watched in disbelief as the ball trickled over the line, not even making the back of the net to make it 1-4 !!!!!!!!

Half way through the half we struggled back to consciousness and Homer's sat nav took him into strange territory.... Hordean's goal area. A one on one and the keeper had the ball snugly in his hands denying us a chance to pull one back.

Paul Arnold's ankle injury forced him off giving Tom Freeman a run. Ben Kelly gave way for Jack Mills. Would this change bring about revival?...Not a chance.

74 minutes, a static defence watched the ball tied to a Horndean toe move carefully through the defence and then finish up in the back of the net...1-5.

The shambles continued it was like watching a horror movie. Did the team respond.....yes..... they had a whip round to pay the supporters for watching them.

Chas Elysee who had been named Horndean's man of the match scored at the wrong end to give us a goal back.

We willed the ref to use his whistle and were rewarded in the 93rd minute with a blast.

Final score 2-5.