Hamworthy United Res 3 - Portland United 1
HAMMERS take the week-end by STORM! with the 1st of a HAT-TRICK of WINS
Dorset Premier League - Match Report
Hamworthy United Res 3 - Portland United 1
A lot of people will be taking a second look when they see this result against a team that are in the top three favourites to win the league. A mixture of youth and experienced players put on a great second half display to win the match after being behind at the interval. The team was managed by Andy James in the absence of Keith Middleton, and he must have been very encouraged with the response that he got from the players.
The first half was bit of a non event, with perhaps the Visitors just getting slightly the better of things, but neither team really threatened too much to open the scoring. Sixteen year old Jim Crossin was giving the Portland defence a few problems with his pace. He appeared to be taken out by a lunging tackle as he ran down the right wing, but the Referee to everybody’s amazement ruled that the defender had played the ball, and not the man, and allowed play to continue. This led to Gary Clarke being yellow carded for dissent. Portland eventually opened the scoring in the forty first minute when slack marking allowed Adam Linaker to score from the edge of the six yard box to give the Islanders a half time lead. Andy James’s half time talk certainly appeared to make a difference as the Hammers for the first time in the match began to get on top. They were awarded a penalty when the Portland Keeper panicked as he was robbed of the ball by JimCrossin. He brought the Hamworthy youngster down a yard off the line just as he was about to score, and the Referee pointed to the spot, but only showed a yellow card to the Keeper. New signing Joe Kittle who himself was enjoying a good debut for Hamworthy stepped up to score from the spot with sixty four minutes gone.
The Hammers were now playing some of their best football of the game, and went ahead when Joe Kittle ran late into the box to head powerfully home from a Sean Griffith pin point cross. Portland almost got back on level terms when the ball beat Gary Smart, but Sean Griffith was on the line to clear. The win was ensured shortly before the end by a wonderful individual goal taken by Jim Crossin, a thorn in the Islanders side all afternoon. James avoided one or two tackles as he ran through the centre of the penalty area before drawing out the Keeper, and sliding the ball past him just inside the post to make the final score 3-1.
Hamworthy United G.Smart, S. Griffith, K. Killick (J. Johnson), R. Dovell, R. Flower, D. Reeks(Cpt), B. Gerrard (R. Norris), G. Clarke, D. Orchard, J. Kittle(J. Reavenall-Nuete), J. Crossin. Unused Subs R. Keynes, C. Barnett