SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2007
STOCKBRIDGE 0 - VERWOOD TOWN 1

We had to wait ten minutes for a good move to be put together.
Stockbridge looked good but without a cutting edge. For some odd reason we couldn’t get into any rhythm but then out of a defensive role came Lynch to spark Homer. A switch with Goodall then back to Homer, Dyer moved wide and his cross flew across the face of goal. Elysee was inches short of touching the ball into the net. It was the first positive thing we had done.

Stockbridge then found their touch and Yerby became our saviour with a last minute tackle in the box.

The game opened up, and half way through the half Yerby collected a loose ball. A pass down the line to Elysee gave our Road Runner space to hit the bye line and a cut back to Faulkner allowed a left foot cracker to force an excellent save from the home keeper.

Reeves then had to depart with a badly twisted ankle and on came Freeman at right back. Yerby moved into mid field alongside Faulkner and Arnold.

28 minutes and Goodall found room to head over the keeper from a Dyer cross. The keeper back pedalled and clawed the ball from just under the bar.

Then it was Fawcett’s turn to perform as Stockbridge pushed us back and a couple of brilliant saves kept us with a clean sheet.

King and Lynch were impeccable in the last couple of minutes as we were peppered with lobs and crosses into the box. We had seemingly had lost the ability to close down players. We survived though and as the whistle blew we trooped off to a 0-0 score line.

Five minutes gone and King sliced Stockbridge’s defence wide open with a telling ball to Goodall. Goodall raced away and across shot finished up in the back of the net. 1-0.

We then enjoyed a purple patch as Dyer and Elysee found space on the flanks. Goodall almost had a second before King raced free to put the ball in the net. A bizarre decision ruled the goal offside. It turned out not to be Pete offside but Dan Goodall on the other side of the box.

Arnold’s header was turned off the line. Faulkner had another effort kicked away and then Homer fired a shot the keeper did well to hold.

Inexplicably we gave ground. Stockbridge found their feet and gradually we found ourselves pinned back on the edge of our area.

The defence did well. Fawcett was a revelation and made one particular save flinging himself across a volley that was heading for the top corner.

We came out fighting and Homer pushed forward. Dyer took over and a chip to Goodall created an opening. King raced through and carried the ball into the area. A left foot shot was palmed away. In came Elysee and his effort took out a tree close to the dressing rooms.

Both ends of the pitch had a bit of excitement but gradually we came under more and more pressure until, we found ourselves pinned on the edge of the box.

Fawcett again was in brilliant form first of all diving to finger tip a shot wide of the post then flinging himself across goal to palm a shot over the bar.

Lynch Yerby Freeman and Homer kept shape and we managed to hang on to the 1-0 advantage.

Stockbridge will no doubt feel they should have had a point at least.