Understandably, perhaps, the Hamworthy United youngsters failed to settle in the opening 20 minutes of this match, and could have been 2 or 3 goals down in a period where goalkeeper Shaun Lillington made some point blank saves. Eventually, however, superior fitness and some good passing football saw these debutants in the South West Counties Youth League run out very comfortable winners. The game became more even as the Hammers defence became better organised, and also as the heat began to expose the Taunton side’s lack of fitness, the visitors eventually taking the lead late in the first half having previously missed a number of other chances. Dean Macklin jinked along the goal line before crossing to the far post for Josh Reavenall-Nuete to head the ball back to Craig Barnett who finished left footed on the half volley into the bottom corner. Halftime 0-1 The second half, however, was a different story with the Hammers completely dominating the game, creating numerous chances, almost at will, and scoring two further goals. Right back Mark Seal popped up on the far post swivelling on a free kick from Craig Barnett before placing his shot low past the keeper into the bottom corner and Dean Macklin added the third, again following a free kick, controlling the ball on his chest before volley into the net. The Taunton goalkeeper then kept the score respectable, making some excellent saves, notable from Richie Norris who had an effort brilliantly tipped onto the bar a point blank range, and Craig Barnett who saw his volley from the edge of the box pushed around the post. Fulltime 0-3

Team: Lillington, Seal, Smith (Rex), Byrne, MacDonald (Capt.), Chappell (Holden), Barnett, Norris, Reavenall-Nuete (Haskell), Macklin, Cooper-Blayney

Hamworthy did more than enough to have at least had a share of the points in this closely contested game. With both teams playing attractive football the match as the score suggests could have gone either way. Sturminster Marshall took the lead after a half an hour’s play which they kept until the break. Things were soon to change after the interval when the Hammers struck back within five minutes of the restart. Left back Dan Watts started the move by picking out Jim Crossin out wide on the left, and his cross was turned in by Player Manager Keith Middleton to finish off a well worked goal. Hamworthy were unlucky not to have gone further ahead when they hit the woodwork soon after scoring. United were to strike again however in the 60th minute with another well taken goal. Luke Stone on for Gary Williams found the head of Joe Kittle to head home to give Hamworthy the lead. This was only to last ten minutes before Ross Humpfrey took advantage of some slack defending to head home and make the match all square. The same player was to repeat the dose just before the end of play to give Sturminster Marshall the victory. The Reserves were beaten but certainly not disgraced. With a bit more luck and perhaps a bit more experience in certain positions the result could easily have been reversed.

Hamworthy United G.Smart, S.Griffiths, D. Watts (B.Gerrard), D.Frake, D. Woods, G. Clarke (K. Killick), D. Orchard, K. Middleton, J. Kittle. G. Williams, (L. Stone), J. Crossin. Unused Subs: S. Leaton

8th September 2007

After their two most recent wins Hamworthy United came back down to earth with a bump losing their first match at the County Ground since they lost to Lymington Town on March 10th last season. Phil Simkin had to make changes with Bret Williiams, Carl Mutch, and Dan Baguely all suspended. The latter two having had to miss the game for cautions picked up last season for their Sunday teams. It did give Phil a chance to have another look at Young Greg Horlock filling in for Bret Williams, and to give Michael Dean a start after his holiday. The first half was very evenly contested throughout with both teams really unable to dictate play for very long. It was the visitors who took the lead however after just six minutes taking full advantage of a poor clearance. Richard Jackson did not appear to be under any real threat when he received the ball in front of goal on the six yard box, but instead of clearing the ball to the wings he passed it low and direct to an approaching Horndean player. Jimmy Cuthbert collected the ball just outside the penalty area and central to goal, and hit an unstoppable shot past Martin Peters to give his team the lead. Within a minute Horndean could have got a second when a United defender was robbed of the ball as he tried to dribble out, only for the shot to be sliced just wide. Play continued to go from end to end and Hamworthy were rewarded with a goal following a corner after twenty four minutes. Micky Hubbards cross was headed down by Steve Gilbert at the far post, and as the ball bounced in front of the Keeper Greg Horlock stooped to head it past him for his first ever Wessex League goal.

The Hammers should have taken the lead a minute before half time when the ball somehow managed to avoid the several attempts to score as it bobbled around the Horndean six yard box before being cleared. Hamworthy came out much the sharper of the two teams in the second half and missed two golden opportunities within the first five minutes of the restart. The best chance fell to Ryan Dovell who burst into the penalty box with the goal at his mercy, but failed to score. The Visitors must have been relieved to still be on level terms, and gradually got back into the game before getting on top and putting the Home side under more prolonged pressure. Horndean were awarded a corner and Graham Lindsey was found at the far post unmarked. He headed the ball back across the goal into the far corner to make it 2-1 and restore the lead. For the remaining twenty minutes Horndean continued to have the edge, but a fierce twenty yard drive from Warren Byerley shortly before the end had to be brilliantly tipped over by Keeper Luke Douglas to keep his side in front. This game was another example that if you do not take your chances in this league you will get punished. To be fair to Horndean over the ninety minutes they deserved to win, but if the Hammers had taken their chances it could have been so much different, but I am sure the lads know this and will be doing their best to put it right next week.

Hamworthy United M. Peters, S. Gilbert, M. Grimason, G. Horlock, N. Walker (Capt), M. Dean,( C. Chivers) , S. Legg, M. Hubbard, R. Dovell, W. Byerley, R, Jackson (R. Middleton) Unused Subs: C Ross- Jennings. J. Edwards, M. Kenway

After a poor midweek performance against Poole Borough the Reserves returned to the sort form that they had shown in the first two games of the season. This was a battling display against the last year’s league winners who were never allowed to get on top, and dictate as they would have wished. There were several changes to the Wednesday’s line up with the return of the experienced Darren Orchard from his holiday, and Gary Clarke amongst others to strengthen the team. Dan Watts was brought in at left back for his first full game of the season, and he produced a very mature display with his excellent reading of the game, and his accurate distribution. The younger players all performed well in this very good all round team performance.

Westland looked physically bigger, and stronger than the Hammers, and probably had slightly the better of things for most of the first half. They were restricted however to only one or two clear cut chances by a resolute defence well marshalled by Darren Reeks, and ably assisted by Greg Horlock at the heart of the Hamworthy defence. The closest Sports came to scoring in the first half was a speculative cross come shot that bounced on the cross bar before going over. As the game progressed United came more into the game, but neither Joe Kittle, nor Barry Gerrard could get a telling shot in on goal despite all their hard work. The score therefore remained goalless at half time.

The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first with both defences on top. It did look however that Westland had broken the deadlock when a rare poor clearance from the Hammer’s defence was volleyed straight back past Gary Smart fifteen minutes into the half. The Assistant Referee however had spotted a Westland player stood in front of the United keeper, and raised his flag to prevent the goal from standing. Shortly afterwards the ball bobbed dangerously around the Home six yard box, and Greg Horlock did well to put the ball out for a corner to relieve the danger. As in the first half the Hammers came more into the game creating chances of their own, but were again unable to convert them into goals. The Referee played eight minutes of extra time as play switched from end to end as both teams went unsuccessfully in search of a winner. The score remained 0-0 at the final whistle to give the Reserves a well deserved point.

Hamworthy United G.Smart, R. Flower, D. Watts, G. Horlock, D. Reeks, G. Clarke (R. Norris), D. Orchard, K. Middleton, J. Kittle (G. Williams0, B.Gerrard (L. Stone), J. Crossin. Unused Subs: S. Griffiths, K. Killick

FA Cup Preliminary Round

Two well taken first half strikes by Carl Mutch set Hamworthy on the path to record a second away win in two years over Western Premier League high fliers Willand Rovers in the FA Cup. Gosport gave permission for on loan striker Warren Byerley to play in this tie, and this allowed Phil Simkin to play a more attacking line up with Carl Mutch joining Warren up front, a move that was to pay rich dividends.

Hamworthy began the game very brightly taking the game to their opponents from the kick off. First Micky Hubbard after two minutes, and then Warren Byerley shortly afterwards tested the Rovers’ Keeper. The second effort was saved with his legs as the Hammers threatened to take an early lead. At the opposite end Martin Peters dealt comfortably with anything that came his way in the opening fifteen minutes, and with his team having so much of the play it came as no surprise when they took the lead five minutes later. Micky Hubbard swung one of his speciality free kicks into the box from which Steve Gilbert at the far post hit the woodwork. The ball rebounded to Carl Much who neatly tucked the ball away to put United in front. Martin Peters once again had no trouble in tipping over a shot following a Willand break in the twenty-sixth minute. Four minutes later Carl Much and the Hammers had doubled their scores. The move was started by the United Keeper who released the ball quickly to Carl Much out wide. The big striker then found Micky Hubbard with a pass, before he raced into the middle for the return and drove the ball low into the net. Rovers came their closest to scoring just on the stroke of half time when they hit the cross bar from a corner.

The Home side came more into the game in the second half, but a couple of first class saves from Martin Peters, and some good defending made sure that they were given no chance to get back in the game. Warren Byerley perhaps should have increased the Hammers lead before they eventually did so after sixty four minutes. A straight forward cross into the box was not dealt with by the Willand Keeper. As he fumbled, the ball was played across the box for Richard Jackson to find the net,and make it 3-0. Willand were handed a lifeline fifteen minutes from the end when Nathan Walker was adjudged to have handled the ball, and given a penalty much to the surprise of many, even among the home supporters. David Steele the Rovers best player on show pulled one back from the spot. For the first time in the match the Hamworthy Defence looked a little flustered as they came under more consistent pressure. They were made to pay for not clearing the ball when they had chance, and this lead to Willand scoring a sloppy goal with six minutes left. Rovers were then reduced to ten men as one of their players was dismissed for a foul on Steve Gilbert after already being booked. With just minutes remaining, a collision between Ryan Dovell, and Nathan Walker resulted in Ryan being taken to hospital in a neck brace, but the Hammers held on to record a very notable victory.

This was a great all round performance, and a thoroughly deserved win against a much fancied team. Hamworthy have now not been beaten since their opening fixture of the season at Cowes, and are now are beginning to look a good team. Ryan Dovell was allowed to travel home with the team after treatment. The Hammers will now play Bishops Cleve from the Southern League Division 1(Midland) on the 15th September at the County Ground.

Hamworthy United M. Peters, S. Gilbert, M. Grimason, B. Williams, N. Walker (Capt), R. Dovell(R. Middleton) , S. Legg, M. Hubbard, C. Mutch ( D. Baguely), W. Byerley (C. Chivers), R, Jackson Unused Subs: C Ross- Jennings.