SYDENHAMS LEAGUE (WESSEX) DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2008
FAWLEY AFC 0 VERWOOD TOWN 1

We desperately needed a win after the tanking from Whitchurch. Adie Arnold and Nigel Reeves had been practising all day Thursday and Friday to give a rousing pre match talk without swearing. This proved a miserable failure.

A cute match advantage was a Fawley team prepared by the side of the pitch and then their team talk in a site cabin situated just behind the goal.

Verwood travelled across the border and luckily on the last leg managed to catch a bus for the remaining distance. We are still trying to locate Bernie Scott who set off well before the team but hasn't been seen since.

4 minutes old and we had two shots blocked in the box. A long clearance and a looping shot on the run had Willis making a good catch. Lynch and King had been paired as our central stronghold and it was King in the early stages that caught the eye with some great tackles as Fawley got on top.

Dyer worked hard on the left and his telling crosses should have been rewarded with goals but we were lacking in the follow up.

10 minutes and Faulkner forced a super save from the keeper.

14 minutes and Elysee squared the ball back to Goodall. A rasping right foot low shot beat the keeper to put us ahead. 1-0.

It was a good end to end game. We had about 60/40 of the attacks but some good defending by the home side kept the score line low.

Half way through the half Fawley lost their rhythm, and we enjoyed a good spell but couldn't capitalise on the change in play.

Half Time came with the score still 1-0.

Both Adie and Nigel had spare underpants in their line bags as we kicked off the second half. The last few weeks' performances gave more than a cause for concern.

4 minutes gone and Fawley swept us aside. The centre forward saw only Chris Willis between him and the net and carefully placing his shot was astounded to see Willis save with his legs.

First aiders were called in immediately. Adie and Nigel were resuscitated as we pushed forward to give Fawley's keeper something to do.

Goodall was our main hope as we played through the middle of the park and Arnold's tigerish style was sparking excellent moves.

8 minutes gone and Elysee foraged back to pick up the ball just outside our area. A simple pass to Faulkner then a cross to Goodall. Homer backed up play and a ball wide to Dyer stretched the defence. A run to the bye line and the ball cut back across the area went sailing to the other side of the pitch. Not a soul had backed up the attack.

Faulkner and Arnold worked tirelessly to keep us on top. Reeves made himself available to connect play and we pushed forward. Yerby overlapping on the right created chances for both Goodall and Dyer but the side netting saw more of the ball than did the inside of the net.

27 minutes and Arnold watched in agony as his hopeful 20 yarder went wide.

The keeper then pulled off a couple of good saves from Elysee and Reeves.

36 minutes and Reeves diverted a cross goalwards. The keeper palmed out the shot for a corner.

Elysee caught the dropping ball on the volley. Bodies blocked the way, out it bounced and Goodall smashed the return straight into the keepers arms.

We couldn't break through again but managed to contain Fawley at 1-0.