Sydenhams Premier League (Tuesday 23-04-13)

Hamworthy were still harbouring hopes of a top ten finish as they welcomed a Totton & Eling Team for their penultimate League game. For them to achieve this, a win was crucial, with both teams positioned in a tight packed mid-table. The Totton team was short of several regulars, and so the Hammers knew that they had to take full advantage of the situation.
The first half was generally scrappy with neither goalkeeper being seriously tested. If anything, the Totton approach play seemed to be the more fluent. For the Hammers some promising individual ball control in front of goal was let down by poor finishing. Adam Tong used his feet well to block out a few Totton goal attempts, and showed good handling from corners, although the understanding with his defence was not always perfect. Hamworthy gave Totton a scare on the half hour when what at first seemed a poor free kick by Ashley Staines ended up heading just below the bar. The Totton keeper Matt Frederick elected to punch as Carl Bradley charged in, and in doing so clearly felt the full force of the impact. It was Totton who opened the scoring about ten minutes before Half Time, a lead they were to hold onto until the break. Terry Cox played a cheeky ball to the right of the goal and Dan Fox was on hand to squeeze the ball into the net just inside the post. This was certainly not part of Hamworthy’s script, and it would surely bode for an interesting half time team talk by Simon Browne.
Half Time 0-1
Now attacking their favourite Irvin Brown End, Hamworthy had clearly been fired up to turn the game around. However, things got off to a bad start when Ashley Staines had to be stretchered off after a challenge from Adam Lowther who was booked for the offence. Hamworthy then started to dominate the game, and were awarded several free kicks in promising positions, but they seemed destined not to score. So it was with great relief to their supporters when in the sixty-eighth minute Carl Bradley at last found the net with a far post header from a corner by Paddy Hester. In the eighty-eighth minute of normal time, a corner from Stefan Penny was met with a Greg Horlock bullet header to the left of the goal to put the Hammers in front. In the fourth minute of time added on there was yet another Hamworthy goal of quality. Carl Bradley back-headed the ball to Lee Chuddy, who was found running down the left wing. He took it to the bye line before laying back a superbly measured pass for Sam Pekun to finish. In addition to Adam Lowther, Totton’s Richard Bridle (bad challenge) and Dan Fox (deliberate handball) found their way into Mr Gillespie’s book. Hamworthy’s Antony Carlile was also booked for dissent. This was a great late show by United which sets them up nicely for their last game of the season at Fareham.
Full Time 3-1
Team; A Tong, S Penny, A Staines (S Pekun), G Horlock, A Ayling, S Lanahan, R Murray (c), P Hester, J Shovelton (L Chuddy), C Bradley, A Carlile

Sydenhams Premier League (Saturday 27-04-12)
Hamworthy United arrived at Cams Alders for their last league fixture of the campaign looking for a win that would hopefully secure a top ten spot, although this also depended on other results. However, as the Fareham programme endorsed, history favoured the home side, with only two wins for the Hamworthy in the seventeen meetings between the teams.
The bumpy pitch and wind was not conducive to good football, but Fareham had the better of the early exchanges. They took the lead on twelve minutes with a looping header from Grant Dove which Adam Tong could not quite reach. However, as the half progressed Hamworthy got more into the game, and they almost equalized on twenty five minutes. Antony Carlile won a free kick just outside the penalty area with a fierce shot charged down by a Fareham defender with the assistance of an arm. Joe Shovelton’s well struck free kick seemed destined for the corner of the goal, but the Fareham stopper Todd Howard pulled off a fine reaction save. With Half Time approaching United were well in command, but they were unable to convert any of their many chances into a goal.
Half Time 1-0
The start of the second half coincided with a sudden and brief rain storm, forcing the spectators to hastily retreat for cover, but at least they were soon to witness some drama. Three minutes into the half, Hamworthy found the equalizer their pressure deserved, although the manner was somewhat unexpected. Sam Pekun was adjudged to have been brought down in the penalty area by the Fareham captain Mat Jones. The Fareham players pleaded that little or no contact had been made. Ryan Murray duly dispatched the penalty, although the goalkeeper did well to get a fingertip to it. However, Fareham restored their lead on fifty seven minutes when Adam Tong was unable to hold onto Wayne Boud’s low free kick among the posse of players. This left Mat Jones to pounce for Fareham, creating a roar from the Fareham faithful behind the goal. However, this Hamworthy Team is made of stern stuff. Shortly after and with the Fareham fans still celebrating, Sam Pekun found the top corner of the net with a superb volley on the edge of the eighteen yard box. This was United’s second equalizer, and another quality goal for the Hammers soon followed to put them into the ascendency. In the sixty eighth minute, Stefan Penny played a majestic through ball to Joe Shovelton who had timed his run perfectly to beat the offside, and clear the last line of defenders. He then cleverly dinked the ball to the left of the goalkeeper who had anticipated a shot to the right. Despite a couple of late Fareham substitutions, United never looked like relinquishing their lead. Ironically the game ended in bright sunshine with no wind, a testimony perhaps to a season which ended on a fine note, other results falling perfectly for Hamworthy too. This meant their mini end-of-season goal of a top 10 finish was indeed achieved, their players and bench leaving the pitch in a deserved joyous mood.
Full Time 2-3
Team; A Tong, D Bassiriki (J Wood), A Ayling, M Head, J Shovelton, R Murray (c), C Bradley, S Penny, J Wyatt, A Carlile (C Perry), S Pekun

Sydenhams Premier League (Saturday 20-04-13)
The Hammers at last had the benefit of starting a game with fresh legs after a fixture-less week, but couldn’t take full advantage to beat a Newport side forced to rotate players after two midweek games in a huge fixture pile up worse than most. The game was played in pleasant sunshine on a firm pitch, a welcome contrast to the previous Saturday. The Islanders gave Hamworthy a scare as early as the first minute, Aleksander Przespolewski getting his foot to a free kick from the left, but the shot was just wide.
After that, Hamworthy started to take control and took the lead on 10 minutes, Lee Chuddy finding the net with a superb free kick into the top corner, from just outside the penalty area. For the remainder of the half, Hamworthy had most of the possession, but were rarely able to break through the opposition’s defence. In particular, Sam Pekun and Stefan Penny put in some fine runs, but missing the final telling ball. On the stroke of Half Time Hammers’ Lee Cuddy at last found himself clear of the back four, but his final shot lacked pace. For the best of Newport’s efforts, Ryan Oatley delivered a high ball pitching towards the top of the goal, which Andy Knights dealt with at the second attempt, while another Alexksander Przespolewski effort was off target.
Half Time 1-0
The second period had barely started when Sam Pekun’s close range shot forced a terrific save out of Newport stopper Gary Streeter. However, paradoxically, this seemed to fire up the Islanders who put in a period of sustained pressure on the Hamworthy goal, the vociferous Hamworthy Manager Simon Browne clearly not happy with his uncertain defence. This pressure culminated in a Newport goal ten minutes into the second half, almost a carbon copy of Hamworthy’s goal, Ian Seabrook floating in a fine free kick to the left of Andy Knights. It took only ten minutes for Newport to score again, a bizarre own goal by Matt Head who somehow fired a header past his own keeper from an innocuous cross by James Butt. In between those two goals, Dave Sturgess had to retire from the game due to an accidental facial injury. With Newport now in front, they seemed more intent on settling onto their lead, their tall defenders seemingly in command. However Hamworthy had other ideas, and ten minutes from the end a Stefan Penny free kick near the right hand corner flag was met by a fierce shot by Greg Horlock which Gary Streeter did very well to divert onto the bar, but the lurking Sam Pekun was on hand prod the rebound into the net for the equalizer. A few in the Hamworthy camp would not have enjoyed the sight of Newport’s Ian Seabrook later preparing another free kick in a similar position to the one from which he had earlier scored. But this time Andy Kinghts was well positioned to catch the ball high to his right. Despite a frantic last few minutes for Hamworthy which included the booking of Greg Horlock for the use of an elbow, they held on for a deserved draw against their more illustrious opponents.
Full Time 2-2

Team: A Knights, M Head, A Staines, G Horlock, J Wyatt, D Sturgess (S Lanahan), S Penny, R Murray, S Pekun, L Chuddy (A Carlile), P Hester

Dorset Youth Cup Final (Sunday 07-04-13)

The Young Hammers were looking to go one better than they did last season when they lost to Poole Town in the Final at the County Ground, and win the Cup for the fourth time in their history.

This was definitely a game of two halves. The first half was fairly even with both sides looking very nervous. Totally understandable with what was at stake. With ten minutes to go in the first half Hamworthy started to push their midfield a bit further up the field, and this proved to be their best bit of the game so far. It looked like they were going into half time with all things equal, but football as always had the last word. A fairly simple long ball from nearly the half way line was sent into the Hamworthy box, but unfortunately the hammers goal keeper made a rare mistake and the ball ended up in the back of the net.

H/T 0-1

The second half started as the first half finished, and Hamworthy took the game to Swanage. Fifteen minutes in and Hamworthy scored a deserved goal. A good ball flicked on by the United centre forward was bouncing into the area when Edward Hammond Hamworthy’s winger patiently waited for the ball to settle, and finished to the goal keepers left. The game started again, and five minutes on an almost identical goal was scored, this time by striker Bret Richie. The game started to get a bit unsettled as Swanage tried to be more physical, but Hamworthy stuck to their task and a good move into the Town box was halted by an unfair challenge, and a penalty was given. The penalty was dispatched by Callum Perry in the sixty eighth minute ensuring a well deserved Cup win for the Hammers, with no way back for the Town before the final whistle
The team and the management should feel very proud of themselves and the club has a very good youth future with the majority of these lads being available again next year.

F/T 3-1

Team: A.Parsons, A. Vatcher, K. Munn (D. Pudney), T. Lovell, E. Pike, J. Hollinsworth, C. Perry, A. O’Brian (R. Cowley), J. Woods, B. Ritchie, E. Hammond (D. Smith)

Sydenhams Premier League (Thursday 11-04-13)

Hamworthy were remarkably playing their sixth game in thirteen days. With Blackfield & Langley bang in form and challenging for the title, the odds were always likely to be against Hamworthy, fielding a makeshift team, with some playing out of position, and with some U18s in the squad (who were all at some point used).

In spite of the changes it was Hamworthy who took the lead after only three minutes, a fine run by Antony Carlile ending with a low shot with placement rather than power to just elude James Lester’s dive. However, this was to become a false dawn. As luck would have it, Hamworthy almost immediately lost one of their most influential players, Stefan Penny. He twisted his ankle off the ball, apparently caused by a divot in the surface, and this before he had even touched the ball. Adam Tong showed safe handling in dealing with two routine waist high shots, but was powerless on 20 minutes to deal with Alex Balderchino’s firm shot across the face of the goal, after an assist by Leigh Mills, which just crept inside his far left post. Fifteen minutes later a cross by Ekow Elliott, who had been a worry for Hamworthy all night exploiting the wide open spaces on the huge pitch, was met by a firm near-post header by Nathan Lynch for number two. Shortly before half time Dave Ewen, who once plied his trade at the County Ground, unleashed a ferocious shot from about 30 yards, which Adam Tong just got enough on to divert for a corner.
Given the circumstances, Hamworthy deserved credit for resolute defending in the first period, restricting the home team to a narrow lead.
Half Time 2-1
Blackield & Langley emerged in the second half clearly intent on adding to their lead. Almost immediately Ekow Elliott, on yet another run down the right, slid a ball to Jake Rowley who, although not making the cleanest contact, somehow managed to find the net among the attending posse of Hamworthy defenders to extend the lead. Alex Ayling had been injured in a brave tackle to prevent the shot, and soon had to be replaced. Fifteen minutes into the half saw possibly the strangest goal of the night. Hamworthy were still preparing their wall just inside the penalty area, when Michael Durdey asked for and was given permission to take a free kick early, finding Ekow Elliott, who had sprung unnoticed to slot the ball past the exposed Adam Tong. Then, on 75 minutes, a long ball to Brandon Goodship deceived the Hamworthy defence, and he managed to weave a fine dribble past Greg Horlock before finding the net for his team’s fifth goal. Adam Tong almost immediately prevented a rout with a great smoother.
Hamworthy’s heads could easily have dropped in the last 15 minutes but their resilience in preventing further goals must have pleased their manager. This period was arguably their best, most of the game being played in the opposition’s half. Without question, Blackfield & Langley were the better class, but it will have been a good learning curve for the Hammers U18 players. A pleasing aspect of the game was the sporting way it was played, with not a single booking.
Full Time 5-1
Team: A Tong, M Head, L Chuddy, G Horlock, A Ayling (K Munn), J Wyatt, S Penny (J Wood), S Pekun, C Bradley, J Shovelton (B Ritchie), A Carl

Sydenhams Premier League (Saturday 13-04-13)

In ordinary circumstances, the referee, Iain Bardsley, might very well have called this game off, played in atrocious rain and wind on a very boggy pitch. Many short passes inevitably got stuck in the mud, and the long ball was the only way to beat the conditions. As it was both teams were keen to get the game played to relieve their fixture burdens, and the referee was lauded for giving it the green light. It was a day of some nostalgia too, one of New Milton’s last games before almost certainly leaving the Wessex League at the end of the season.
New Milton opened the scoring after only 5 minutes when Den Eggerton played a long central ball to Ashley Booker. He turned and found the net with a firm shot to the right of Andy Knights. The Hammers, who had been creating the slightly better chances, equalized on 23 minutes. Antony Carlile hit a firm low cross from the right, which teed up Stefan Penny, advancing on the left. He side footed the ball past the already committed New Milton stopper Simon De’ath. United took the lead on 40 minutes, when a long cross from the right by Sam Pekun found Stefan Penny in almost the same position from which he had scored. This time however his shot had little power, but somehow squirmed past the goalkeeper on the sticky surface. In between the Hamworthy goals, New Milton’s Callum Holloway missed two useful chances. For the first, Adam Roberts’ perfect cross set him up unmarked for a header which sailed just wide. The second resulted from a mesmerizing central ball played by Ashley Booker to the edge of the six yard box. With Andy Knights deciding not to come for it, Callum Holloway was left with ample time and space to place a shot either side of the goalkeeper, but in fact placed it just wide of the goal. The Hammers one goal advantage at the break was little more than a reflection of the lottery of the conditions, and was certainly not a lead to feel comfortable with.
Half Time 1-2
With the rain now very marginally reducing, Hamworthy were adapting to the conditions slightly better than the Town, and started to pepper their goal with shots. About 15 minutes into the half, they managed a third goal. The conditions again played a key part. when Sam Pekun’s close range shot beat the goalkeeper’s dive, but hit the left post. The ball then got stuck in the mud on the goal line. Greg Horlock beat the charging defenders to get to it first and inch it over the line. As New Milton frantically tried to get back into the game, Adam Roberts and Ashley Booker were booked for over enthusiastic challenges. Their efforts forced Andy Knights into a couple of saves, The ball also comically ricocheting around the Hamworthy goalmouth right at the end. The Hammers Jake Hollingsworth was also booked for a late tackle, but United held on to win.
Full Time 1-3
Team: A Knights, M Head, A Staines, G Horlock, J Wyatt, D Sturgess, S Penny, R Murray, A Carlile (J Wood), C Bradley (D Bassiriki), S Pekun (J Hollingsworth)

Sydenhams Premier League (Monday 08-04-13)

Even the Fawley Committee at the cold Waterside Sports and Social Club were predicting a comfortable win for Hamworthy, the League fixture pile up, for one reason or another, claiming eight Fawley regulars. Had the match lasted 45 minutes they would have been correct, but, as the saying goes “football is a game of two halves”.

Hamworthy certainly had the better of a scrappy first half, although Fawley almost drew first blood after five minutes, when Elliott Earl, the Fawley captain, squeezed in a goalmouth shot, but a combination of Andy Knights and post saved Hamworthy. A couple of other early Fawley shots were caught in the high wind, ably fielded by tall oak trees behind the Hamworthy goal, while Lee Chudy came close for Hamworthy on two occasions. Towards the latter stages of the half, Hamworthy were certainly carving out the better chances, Ryan Murray having a long range effort just tipped wide after 35 minutes, and just after that Stefan Penny’s long range effort was not far over. After 40 minutes, Hamworthy broke the deadlock, continuing the quality finishing of the previous Saturday, when Stefan Penny spotted and fed Sam Pekun’s sudden run, who took a couple of further touches before blasting the ball into the left hand corner of the goal past Joe Prodomo. The same player nearly added a second on the stroke of Half Time, rounding his defender in front of goal before placing a delicate shot to the goalkeeper’s far post, who just got a hand to the ball.

Half Time 0-1

Hamworthy had a disastrous start to the second half. This wasn’t without warning, Fawley’s Greg King, with some venom, immediately heading inches over from a corner. Four minutes into the half Ben Murphy equalized for Fawley after a good run on the left, set up by Callum Earl. Three minutes later Elliott Earl, on receiving an Ian Moore pass, shot low past a surprised Andy Knights from about 20 yards to put Fawley in front.
Hamworthy, although not short of effort and creating the odd tame chance, never truly looked like getting back into the game after that sudden blitz, and Fawley started to play some attractive football, Zac Anderson always looking a HAMWORTHY UNITED 1 threat. Half an hour into the second half, Fawley’s Dan Semmens, almost on the right touchline found Matt Ley unmarked on the left hand post with a supremely measured pass, who buried the ball into the roof of the goal to wrap the game up for Fawley. Greg Horlock was booked late on for disputing a Fawley free kick. Ashley Staines also hit a powerful free kick into the top right hand corner that the goalkeeper did well to palm away, but, at the end of the day, this was probably a game that both teams, on a cold night, were simply happy to chalk off their congested fixture list.
Full Time 3-1

Team: A Knights, A Ayling, A Staines, G Horlock, J Wyatt, D Sturgess (A Carlile), R Murray (C), S Lanahan, S Pekun, L Chuddy (J Shovelton), S Penny

Sydenhams Premier League (Tuesday 02-04-13)

Hamworthy welcomed back Steve Walker from Dorchester as a replacement for injured Greg Horlock, while the Poppies outfit included ex-Hammers Nic Jones in goal, Richard Jackson, and Aaron Corby.
Poppies, looking to complete a double over the Hammers, certainly seemed to have the greater sparkle in the first half. Hamworthy’s shots were generally optimistic and well off target or easily saved. It was no surprise when Poppies took the lead after 12 minutes. Nic Jones, whose kicking had been a thorn for Hamworthy throughout the game, delivered a huge punt down the right wing, misjudged by Steve Walker, leaving Connor Phillips with ample time to cut in from the right and rifle an unstoppable shot past Andy Knights. Andy Knights did well to smother a shot from the same player a few minutes later. On 20 minutes, Poppies extended their lead. A fine three man move, starting on the left, ended up with Scott Joyce, whose run on the right had not been picked up, shooting past the again unprotected goalkeeper. As the game opened up, it became a little brash at times, and mid-way through the first half Poppies’ Aaron Corby saw the first booking for a late flick on the advancing Dave Sturgess. Dave Sturgess himself was also booked during the half for a late tackle. Remarkably, Poppies almost added a third before the Half Time whistle, Martin Warren getting on the end of a fine cross by Connor Phillips to head past Andy Knights, but the officials felt they had spotted the use of an arm.
Half Time 0-2
The second half brought saw much more vigour in Hamworthy’s play as they attacked the Irwin Brown Stand End determined to get back into the game. As the game heated, Poppies’ Elliot Ward and Scott Joyce were booked for dissent. At last Hamworthy were starting to string some good movements together. In particular Joe Shovelton and Carl Bradley linked up well in one move down the left, but Carl Bradley’s final touch was too strong allowing the goalkeeper to intercept easily. Mid way through the half saw Hamworthy’s best attempt so far, Carl Bradley firing just wide after excellent through ball by Ryan Murray. Unfortunately for Hamworthy a Lee Chuddy free kick from the edge of the area was well over. On one of Poppies’ few counter attacks, Martin Warren’s dipping shot was well tipped over by the back pedalling Andy Knights. Three minutes before the end however, Hamworthy at last opened their account, a lay back across the goal from the busy Sam Pekun was only partially cleared, the ball falling nicely to Lee Chuddy, who blasted in a fierce shot off the underside of the bar. However any thoughts Hamworthy had of sharing the points vanished almost immediately, Scott Joyce finding the net with a low shot from outside the area which seemed to take Andy Knights by surprise. Despite Hamworthy’s greater urgency in the second half, few spectators doubted the Poppies had the cutting edge in front of goal where it mattered, and were worthy of the three points.
Full Time 1-3
Team: A Knights, M Head, P Hester, S Walker (J Wyatt), A Ayling, D Sturgess, R Murray (C), S Lanahan, J Shovelton (L Chuddy), S Pekun, A Carlile (C Bradley)

Sydenhams Premier League (Thursday 04-03-13)

Hamworthy Utd did well to bounce back after the disappointing result against Poppies, especially considering Hayling United’s recent fine results against two teams near the top Bemerton Heath and GE Hamble. The game was never going to be a classic on a freezing evening, compounded by an unpleasant wind and an icy pitch sanded down on one side. None-the-less, Hamworthy dominated the game for long periods, leaving Andy Knights with no real save to make.

Hamworthy took the lead after ten minutes; Antony Carlile got the second touch to a long clearance from Andy Knights, and, with aplomb control, slotted the ball past the Hayling goalkeeper Luke Hutchings. They almost extended their lead 5 minutes later, the same player hitting the post with a fierce shot from 20 yards, that the goalkeeper never even moved for. The weather was certainly a contributory factor forcing the referee having to retire at Half Time with a pulled muscle, one of his two assistants taking the whistle for the second half, with a local youngster stepping in to run the line.

Half Time 0-1

Hayling United restored level terms with a comical goal about ten minutes into the second half. Paddy Hester attempted to clear a long ball, from Nathan Kirby on left wing, with his weaker foot but the ball hit the back of Andy Knights to leave a simple tap in for Alex Easton.
However Hamworthy restored their lead after about 70 minutes when the darting Sam Pekun was blatantly brought down just inside the corner of the penalty area by Ami Rosario, and Ryan Murray duly put away the penalty. Hayling’s Nathan Kirby was booked late on for appearing to tug Stefan Penny by the hair, and five minutes later made a late tackle on Ryan Murray who himself was booked for dissent following the ensuing confrontation. Hamworthy deservedly held into their lead despite a couple of long range efforts by the Humbugs.

Full Time 1-2

Team: A Knights, M Head, J Wyatt, P Hester, A Ayling, R Murray (C), S Penny, S Lanahan, C Bradley (L Chuddy), A Carlile (D Sturgess), S Pekun (J Shovelton)

Sydenhams Premier League (Saturday 06-04-13)

Hamworthy completed their second double in three days, in what was remarkably their fourth league game in eight days. Tired legs understandably led to Simon Browne protecting some of his established players from another full 90 minute shift, in what was on paper a three point banker, with two tough midweek games on the road beckoning.

As the game progressed, a comfortable win for Hamworthy was never really in doubt, and the spectators enjoyed some high quality football by the home team on a very pleasant afternoon. It took only ten minutes for Hamworthy to get off the mark, Paddy Hester firing in a glorious shot into the bottom right hand corner, from some 20 yards out on the left, after a fine one-two with Lee Chuddy. On 25 minutes, the lead was doubled. Lee Chuddy was fouled on the left edge of the penalty area, and from his own free kick, found the head of Greg Horlock to the right of the goal, who in turn sent back a perfectly weighted ball for Paddy Hester head in from two yards. Lee Chuddy was also not far out with a 25 yard effort, and Sam Pekun shot narrowly wide after linking up well with Dave Sturgess.
Adam Tong, donning the goalkeeper’s jersey for the rested Andy Knights, was never seriously tested, but did make one useful stop early on from Romsey’s Matt Austin at his near post.

Half Time 2-0

The second half was essentially plain sailing for Hamworthy, good team work culminating in many shots either just wide or well saved. Adam Tong was none-the-less called into action at the odd moment, saving well from Danny Phillips with his legs, and shortly after smothered another counter attack. Midway through the second half, Hamworthy put the result to bed with yet another quality finish. Joe Shovelton beat the offside to collect a through ball, drew the goalkeeper who he then superbly rounded for Hamworthy’s third.
Other creditable shots during the half came from Lee Chuddy, Joe Shovelton, and Carl Bradley, and Peddy Hester was unlucky to miss his final kick after a fine move involving Carl Bradley and Lee Chuddy. The victory was marred somewhat by two late Hamworthy bookings, Ashley Staines for a poor challenge from behind, and Matt Head for dissent, four Romsey players also finding their way into Mr Benin’s book, mostly for over zealous tackles although the game was generally played in good spirit.

Full Time 3-0

Team: A Tong, M Head, A Staines, G Horlock, J Wyatt, D Sturgess, S Penny (S Lanahan), P Hester, A Carlile (J Shovelton), L Chuddy (C), S Pekun (C Bradley)