ISUZO FA VASE FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING
SATURDAY 26TH AUGUST 2023
WHITCHURCH UNITED 3 VERWOOD TOWN 2

More frustration was suffered away at Whitchurch where yet again we had the higher percentage of possession, good chances, but left with Whitchurch going into the next round of the Vase.

3 minutes old and one down !!! A scramble in our box from a corner, a toe poke and 0-1.

Whitchurch continued to press keeping Mitchell busy. Then we settled.

Good football and movement but when in the Whitchurch area couldn’t add the killer touch. Smith and Danvers were our main attacking threat for a while but crosses were scrambled away.

Bragginton had a shot take varnish off the post indicating the pressure we applied. Shepherd was closely marked and got a couple of shots away but not damaging enough.

Typical, on 25 minutes we had camped in Whitchurch third and left a gap at the back wider than the M1. Long ball ..runner .. 0-2. !!!

35 gone and at last we put the ball in the net.

Good football down the left, a Danvers cut back and Smith hammered a 25 yarder past the keeper. 1-2.

We maintained pressure and should have had another couple of goals but had to wait until with 45 minutes on the clock McWilliams drifted past his marker laying on an inch perfect pass for Lowes to notch his first goal for the Club. 2-2.

Half Time 2-2.

Shane Orchard suffered injury early and was subbed with Jack Warburton going one for one.

2 minutes..Shepherd shot goes dead. 3 minutes Carswell splits defence, McWilliams inches from touching home.

Then the killer. 10 minutes on the clock a long clearance out of Whitchurch defence lands in our box. Poor control .. no one putting a foot through it .. another blunder .. 2-3.

19 min. McHale came on for Bragginton. On 35 Broad came on for Lowes.

The game became scrappy as we pushed on with Whitchurch ruggedly defending.

In the closing minutes we again had chances but blew the opportunity to go into the next round.

Result 2-3