HAMWORTHY UNITED 3 DOWNTON 1
After a promising opening half Hamworthy United were forced to struggle until the final couple of minutes before they made sure of all three points. Two goals up at half time and apparently playing well within themselves, but then they suddenly lost the plot for about twenty minutes, allowing Downton to get back into the game.
The early play was fairly even, but it was Martin Peters who was called upon to make the first real save of the game when he had to be alert to push a fierce Downton shot round the post for a corner. Hamworthy gradually began to get the upper hand, and this time it was Glenn Craven’s turn to divert Steve Gilbert’s overhead scissor kick out for another corner. The Hammers took a well deserved lead in the 29th minute after they began to control of the game. Warren Byerley beat his man and crossed with his left foot picking out Nathan Walker to head home his fifth league goal of the season. Within five minutes United had doubled their lead following an attack down the left Richard Jackson rolled the ball along the line for a simple tap in by Warren Byerley. The home team were now in command, but were unable to increase their advantage further before the half time whistle.
The interval appeared to do Downton a lot more good than it did the Hammers. They played with a lot more confidence, and following a rare Martin Peters mistake pulled a goal back. A corner was awarded when Hamworthy failed to clear the ball up field when they had the chance. The usually reliable Peters failed to meet the cross when it came, and this allowed a looping header to find the net and reduce the Hamworthy lead. Downton for the next twenty minutes or so more than matched United, as they went in search of an equaliser. Luckily for the Hammers their finishing did not match up to their approach work as United struggled to get their game going again. As the end approached Hamworthy did finish the stronger and got on top again. Byerley Found the net only for it to be ruled off side, but then United did score again with less than two minutes remaining. The move started with a long clearance from deep in the Hamworthy half and finished with a simple tap in for Carl Much to make it 3-1 at the final whistle.
This was not one of Hamworthy’s better games, but the result was good and it moved them up into the top half of the table with games in hand of most of their rivals.
Team: M. Peters, S. Gilbert, R. Dovell, G. Horlock, N. Walker, M. Dean (M. Connet), S. Legg, M. Hubbard, J. Swann (C. Mutch), W. Byerley, R. Jackson (R. Middleton) Unused Sub: B. Williams