WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
TUESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2017
PORTLAND UNITED 3 VERWOOD TOWN 0

A cold night with thick drizzle heralded the kick off. 29 seconds later the ball was slammed past Bennet whilst we were still sorting ourselves out. 0-1.

It was a rocky 10 minutes that followed with constant pressure down the flanks from Portland.

Kelly and Smith worked overtime stemming the flow and Donachy was exceptional reading aerial threats.

The assured Dyer began stamping some authority in the middle and linking with Kimber sparked some counters.

Simkins and Fletcher gave threat to the Portland goal but a solid looking back four kept us outside the box. A Simkins volley was on target but a good Portland keeper safely gathered at the foot of the post.

Good feet took White past his marker and a low cross whistled across the box untouched. A long clearance put Portland on a swift counter attack and this time it was Bennet’s turn to stop the raid making a brave save at feet.

Dyer gave Fletcher a run on goal but bodies swiftly blocked his run. Another long clearance was carefully steered away from danger by Donachy. Smith collected a pass and keeping the ball on the right sent Kimber scampering clear. A good shot whistled over the bar.

A tussle for the ball just outside our area left Smith injured. His right shoulder had popped out in a fall. Attention from Tara Goldingay and Dan Scott had the shoulder back and Smith decided to try and continue.

A minute into extra time we got punished by pushing too far forward and a long ball down the right was whipped into the box. Bodies blocked a shot but luck was on the home teams side when the ball bounced around finishing in the back of the net 0-2.

Half Time 0-2

A sign of a good team is one of not switching off. Portland had the ball in the net again with only a couple minutes gone in the second half. 0-3. The goal deserved merit. A good swerving strike left Bennet stranded.

Smith’s injury then forced a substitution. Max Purton came on at right back as Adie Arnold and Christer Warren shuffled the pack.

Portland chased a fourth. Good running and classic cross field long balls had us back pedaling. Donachy and Kelly blocked an attack through the middle and Purton made a great tackle on the edge of our area as Portland dominated.

Dyer yet again stamped an air of authority in the middle alongside Kimber . White slammed a cross into the box for Bergin but the shot was wayward.

We weathered a Portland storm in which Bennet had to make some excellent stops to keep the score board becoming rampant.

Warren came on for Simkins with 67 minutes gone and 5 minutes later Bergin made way for Webber.

Our younger players performed well. Fletcher and Webber took on the left flank of Portland and Fletcher managed a shot from a Webber through ball that deserved a change to the score board but the keeper was well placed to take the catch.

Warren’s inclusion in the middle alongside Dyer and Kimber gave a more solid feel and we gradually got back to leveling play.

In the closing stages our defence had to cope with strong running forwards but did well to stem opportunities on goal.

Result 0-3.