Dorset County Youth League (Sun 28-10-07)

From the first whistle to the last this was a match full of incident and quality, which could have gone either way, but with the visitors ending the day by far the happiest after their last minute winner.

The Hammers took the after just 20 seconds! The goal, the result of a swift move of high quality involving Joe Byrne, Luke Stone and Charlie Gajic, with the latter crossing for Mike Haskell to side foot home following an excellent run at pace into the six yard box.

The match then took on a pattern that remained for the majority of the game, Westlands having neat possession but unable to create clear openings, and the Hammers explosive on the break and always looking the more dangerous.

However, four key incidents in the second half were to result in the Hammers losing the match. Firstly, slack marking resulted in Westlands getting in behind the home side’s defence for the equaliser.

Then with ten minutes to go Luke Stone missed the chance of the game when he sliced wide from 10 yards out after another fast Hamworthy break.

And with the game seemly destined to end in a draw the Hammers gave away two consecutive, needless, free kicks that advanced Westlands up the field. The second free kick was floated into the box, the Hammers keeper came to claim it, missed the ball, and a Westlands player nodded in their last minute winner.

Even after this the home side had chances to equalise but it was not to be their day.

Team: Gillingham, Byrne, Cole, Watson, Pimm (Capt.), Chappell, Stone (Tunnicliffe), Holden, Haskell, Gajic, Basing (Dyer)

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