PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
TUESDAY 22ND JULY 2014
VERWOOD TOWN 2 POOLE TOWN 4

We had a couple of players still missing but turned up with a reasonable squad for this quality friendly.

Lynch Evans Elysee Molyneaux Cormack Gajic Dyer Guthrie Fisk Cousins Foster Rutten Reed Murray Anderton Collins

We kicked off with a copy of last season's notorious slow start to each half. 2 minutes old and we opened up on the right with space wider than the M1. Luckily Cornack was on the ball and a great tackle prevented the cross.

A minute later Cormack again was the hero, nipping across to his left taking the ball cleanly before a shot could be made.

4 minutes and a lob over our mid field bounced on the edge of the box. Lynch had strayed a bit too far so we suffered and early 0-1 score line.

Poole applied pressure. We funnelled back to weather the storm. Lynch took a high catch and then Molyneaux won a race down the line to give away a throw. Evans used pace to beat his opposite number and the ball was slipped down the line for Dyer to cut inside and square the ball for Foster to try his luck. The shot was on target but straight at the keeper.

Poole's left flank made ground and a cross into the box found a head but luckily a misdirected header went wide of the upright.

Lynch had to show his quality with a reflex save from a corner flicking the ball past the post from a downward header.

Gajic, Dyer and Guthrie worked the ball centrally but Guthrie's shot on the edge of the box was blocked.

We were struggling to break down Poole Town's defence but almost had reward for effort when Cormack strode forward to unleash a great shot from 25 yards that flew over the bar.

Cousins and Fisk tracked back to help block a central attack and then Lynch had to make a high catch as Poole changed attacking mode.

44 minutes we pushed on again and Gajic jinked his way past a couple of tackles and tried his luck from just outside the area. The ball stayed two feet above the turf flying past the keeper 1-1.

A couple of minutes extra time didn't have any influence on the score line. 1-1.

48 minutes and Lynch had to race from his line to head clear to Cormack. Cormack spotted Fisk making space and hit a pass into Fisk's stride. A good shot but straight at a good keeper.

49 minutes and a retaliatory strike from Poole found us napping at the back. A simple cross and tap in 0-2.

We had totally lost concentration. A ball through the middle went unchecked and a chip over the advancing Lynch made it 1-3.

The Vallium was out now for Carl Poore. A double dose swiftly calmed feelings.

A shuffle of the pack and a few choice words was enough to steady us up a bit.

Dyer and Fisk worked the flank and a cross from Fisk should have been an easy tap in but no one had followed up.

Gajic then broke free to try a shot from the edge of the box but saw it sail over the bar.

Rutten had come on up front and was showing great industry in closing down players at the back and where space allowed had a few shots. One shot was dipping under the bar and had the hallmark of a good goal until the keeper flicked it over the top.

We pressed forward. A good ball from the right whipped across the goal line and Rutten this time did enough to put his name on the score sheet. 2-3.

Poole hit back and Evans showed a touch of class coolly taking the ball off toes just outside the box and sparking a counter attack. Fisk hit a low cross for Dyer and Dyer's volley had the keeper beaten but agonisingly hit the outside of the post and went for dead.

15 minutes left and we had pushed up too far. A crossfield ball caught us out and a runner slotted the ball past Collins who had ventured to the edge of the area. 75 minutes and and the score board read. 2-4

We were looking a bit heavy legged and Poole enjoyed knocking the ball around in mid field. We had closed ranks at the back and with a very alert Cormack and Molyneaux in the middle had shut down space.

A flurry from Rutten and Dyer up front almost resulted in a goal but the keeper again proved exceptional with a fine save, Again, we enjoyed a good friendly against quality opposition and with everyone in the squad having a run out.

RESULT 2-4
Report submitted by Bernard Scott