Dorset Senior Trophy (Round 2)
 The Reserves soon found out that these matches are never easy against opposition from a lower league as they usually raise their game for the occasion. The Hammers had to come back from being one nil down against Witchampton away, before eventually going through to the next round of the Trophy thanks to a second half recovery.
The Hammers struggled in the first half to get into the game, and paid the penalty by finding themselves a goal behind at the break. Manager Keith Middleton made changes in the second half, and pushed Darren Orchard up front. This move soon paid dividends with the ex First Team Striker scoring two quick goals to give the Hammers the lead, and at last looking the better of the two sides. Darren Rudd made it three with his first goal for the club which made the score more respectable, and Gary Smart pulled off two good saves towards the end to make sure it stayed that way.

Team: G.Smart, S. Leaton, D. Watts, K. Killick, S. Griffiths, D. freak (J. Johnson),D. Orchard, M. Wynne, D. Rudd, G. Williams (B. Gerrard) , D. Williams (R. Flower) .

South West Counties Youth League Cup, Saturday, 10th November 2007
Apart from one enforced change, the Hamworthy youngsters fielded the same team that played so well at Eastleigh last week, with Mark Seal coming in for the injured Jordan Cole. 

A strong wind effected possession for both sides in either half of the match, with Salisbury penning the Hammers back for sustained spells in the first half, but with the Hammers always looking very dangerous on the break. However, Hamworthy held out to go in 0-0 at halftime.

In the second half the roles were reversed with the Hammers forcing the play and Salisbury reduced to chances on the break, but despite Hamworthy having more possession it was the visitors that took the lead.

After 70 minutes poor organisation at a corner allowed the ball to be played short before being delivered into the 6 yard box, where an unmarked City player headed home to put them one nil up.

The Hammers rallied though with Charlie Gajic coming off the bench to provide a different dimension to the attack.

With 10 minutes left Jim Crossin collected the ball from a clearance following a corner, before cleverly losing his marker and delivering a superb left footed cross that Charlie Gajic headed into the bottom corner giving the Salisbury keeper no chance.

Team: Lillington, Seal (Smith), Chappell, Byrne, Pimm, MacDonald, Crossin, Norris (Mower), Reavenall-Nuete (Gajic), Godfrey, Macklin

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

Saturday, 3rd November 2007 – Won 2-1

The Hamworthy youngsters started the league section of the SWCYL Cup with arguably their best performance and result of the season so far. They took the lessons learnt from their previous defeat to the same opposition two weeks earlier to win far more comfortably than the 2-1 score line suggested.

The Hammers, better in every department than the home side in the first half, carried on in the same manner in the second period and took a well deserved lead after 55 minutes. A fast and precise interchange of passes between debutant Alex Godfrey and the Hamworthy midfield saw Joe Byrne burst clear of the Eastleigh defence on the break before coolly finishing under the already committed keeper.

After 70 minutes left back Jordan (Ashley) Cole went on a marauding run past several Eastleigh players, then exchanged a one two on the edge of the box with forward Alex Godfrey, before pulling a right footed shoot low past the Eastleigh goalkeeper’s outstretched leg for a 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately, Eastleigh got back into the game following a restart after an injury with 15 minutes to go, which saw them then press, without creating many really clear openings, for an equaliser that would have been on injustice on the visitors.

Team: Lillington, Chappell (Seal), Cole, Byrne, Pimm, MacDonald (Capt.), Crossin, Norris, Reavenall-Nuete (Cooper-Blayney), Godfrey (Dyer), Macklin

An already depleted Hamworthy squad was reduced even further when striker Warren Byerley was forced to withdraw from the team with flue just prior the kick off. United were also without Jack Swann, Michael Dean, Bret Williams, and Greg Horlock, but welcomed the return of Mat Grimason.

The Hammers kicked up the slope in the first half, and held their own against one of the favourites for the league. The pace of the game from the start was very quick, and was to continue in this vogue throughout the game For the first twenty minutes play flowed from end to end with neither side able to capitalise on their good approach work. Hamworthy’s best chance of the game fell to Carl Mutch put through one on one with the Keeper, but he delayed his shot, and Hutchings was able to save as he over ran the ball. Martin Peters in the Hamworthy goal made two good saves in quick succession, but was beaten just a few minutes later. For the first time in the match the usually reliable United defence switched off, and were caught by a root one clearance from deep in the Wimborne half. Top Goal scorer Scott Joyce was found on the edge of the penalty area unmarked, and was able to beat the advancing Martin Peters with a top drawer strike to give the home side the lead. A lead they kept at the interval.

The Hammers were forced to make a substitution at half time as another flue victim Mark Connet was unable to continue. The second half continued much the same as the first with Wimborne having the slight edge, and looking the more potent in front of goal. Things were not made any easier for United when Ryan Dovell limped off injured, and was replaced by seventeen year old Richard Norris from the Youth side. Deep into time added on the Magpies were awarded a free kick just outside the box taken by Tommy McCormack. His shot hit the wall and could have gone anywhere, but it fell kindly for Wimborne striker Stokoe who drove the rebound past Martin Peters to double the lead. A second goal flattered the home side who were pushed all the way by a hard working Hamworthy side who played very well. United could be proud of their efforts on the night against a very good side that will be there or there about at the end of the season.

Team: M.Peters, R. Middleton, S. Grimason, S. Gilbert, N. Walker, R. Dovell ( R. Norris), S. Legg, M. Hubbard, C. Mutch, M. Connet (R. Webb), R. Jackson (D. Frake) Unused Sub M. Dean

Hamworthy Sunday Team march on to round three of the FA Sunday Cup after beating their rivals from the Leatherhead Sunday League after extra time. The Hammers were losing 2-1 with just one minute of normal time remaining.

Hamworthy got away to a dream start when James Stickland scored after only three minutes. The Hammers then went on to dominate the first half, against a team that had shown good approach work, but lacked a finish. The lightning quick Lee Thomas broke through the visitors defence time after time, but he too was unable to find the net. All the missed chances meant that United had only a 1-0 lead at the interval instead of the five nil their dominance probably deserved.

United took their foot off the pedal in the second half and nearly paid the penalty. RARA scored in the sixty ninth minute after getting back into, and then taking over the match in the second period. A well struck free kick ten minutes later gave them the lead, and to make things worse for the Hammers they lost their keeper through injury. These set backs only spurred on Hamworthy to get back in the game, and this they did with good effect. With just one minute remaining of normal time Nathan Walker headed home a Mickey Hubbard free kick to bring the scores level.
Hamworhy continued to dominate in extra time and scored two more goals. James Stickland got his second, and at long last Lee Thomas rolled the ball under the keeper’s body to get on the score sheet.

Team: A. Stone (S. Hesford), D. Rudd, D. Watts, S. Griffiths, N. Walker, D. Williams, K. Middleton, M. Hubbard (cpt), L. Thomas, G.Williams (J. Bates), J.Stickland. Unused Subs:  E. Parsons, J. Johnson, D. Young

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 

Hamworthy could have had few complaints after the game having been beaten on the night by the better team. Phil Simkin and his men knew it would be a difficult game, and must have been a little disappointed with their performance on the night. They were unable to match the sort of form that they had shown in their FA Cup run on a big pitch and against a team full of confidence, and currently top of the league.
Hamworthy opened the match confidently, and had slightly the better of the early exchanges, but this did not last long as Poole eased their way into the game. The Hammers had their chances, but never really looked like beating Max Frampton the ex- Hammer Keeper. Poole Town eventually opened the scoring ten minutes before the break with a somewhat fortuitous goal. Dave Sturgess’s twenty yard strike took a wicked deflection which left Martin Peters helpless to prevent the goal. The score remained 1-0 at the break.
The home side continued to play the better football on a maximum sized pitch that suited their style of play more than that of the Hammers. Jack Swann making his return after his latest injury was replaced by Richard Jackson, and Michael Dean by Keith Middleton to try and change things, but this was to no avail. It was a Poole substitute however who made sure that his team progressed to the next round. Culliford on for another ex Hammer Dan Cann headed home a corner late in the game to remove any doubt about the winners.
Much to a lot of peoples surprise the game did not really live up to many people’s expectations. It was played low key, and without the usual atmosphere that is attached to matches between these two Clubs. The Vase game at the County Ground on a smaller pitch and with a much bigger prize for the winners should be a different story.

Team:  M. Peters, R. Middleton, R. Dovell, S. Gilbert, N. Walker, M. Dean (K. Middleton), S. Legg, M. Hubbard, C. Mutch, J. Swann (R. Jackson), M. Connet Unused sub: G. Horlock