Phil Simkin was down to the bare bones when it came to team selection. Warren Byerley returned, but he lost the services of Carl Mutch,Ryan Dovell and Mark Connet from the already depleted team that started against Wimborne. He must have been very pleased therefore with the battling team performance against a team that had beaten the Hammers at the County Ground in early September.
Hamworthy kicked uphill on a sloping pitch not blessed with the best of playing services, and against a strong wind. As the match developed however both teams favoured these conditions in a game of two halves. It took United only four minutes to take the lead from the penalty spot when an opponent missed the ball, and kicked Steve Legg thigh high. Warren Byerley stepped up and sent a low shot into the left hand corner of the net a repeat of what he did in the same fixture last year. Byerley almost had a second with a lob that went just past the post. Richard Jackson headed off the line at the other end as Horndean tried for an equaliser. Hamworthy continued to have the better of the exchanges however, and deservedly led at the interval by the odd goal.
The second half saw Horndean take over control of the game as some of the Hamworthy players understandably began to tire. The Hamworthy defence however ably led by Captain Nathan Walker restricted the home team to long shots for most of the time. The closest Horndean came to scoring was a fierce shot that Martin Peters took quite comfortably thanks to his excellent positioning. A very tired Warren Byerley who had worked up from front alone for most of the game was replaced by new signing Rob Webb. Horndean continued to have most of the play, but a great team effort by the Hammers ensured that they never really looked like getting the equaliser. The Hammers almost got a second when a deep Micky Hubbard free kick found Nathan Walker with two minutes to go. The big defenders looping header however just nestled on the top of the net with the keeper beaten.

Team:  M. Peters, S. Gilbert, M. Grimason, G. Horlock. N. Walker, R. Middletons, S. Legg, M. Hubbard, J. Stickland, W. Byerley (R. Webb), R. Jackson. Unused Subs: R. Ward, R. Norris

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