NEW MILTON TOWN 0 HAMWORTHY UNITED 1
Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division (Sat 29-12-07)
Hamworthy United finished the year with a win after completing the double over New Milton Town. The win also moved the Hammers up into tenth place in the League out of twenty three teams. It puts their points total only one behind last season’s total of thirty seven. New Milton included four ex Hammers in their side. Nick Jones, Dan Pidgley, and Andy Borthwick started with Dan Neville on the bench. On loan Keeper Wayne Robbins from Poole Borough filled in for Martin Peters who was unavailable for United. Jack Swann returned from injury.
This game was played in similar circumstances to the game at the County Ground in August. A very strong wind was present making good football difficult. United started the better of the two sides and were very unlucky not to have taken the lead early on. Nathan Walker headed the ball down from a free kick which then hit a defenders foot, and rebounded just over the bar for a corner. Hamworthy always looked to have the upper hand against a young side whose approach work was often good, but had no finish to threaten United. The Hammers forced several corners in quick succession which the Home side did well to defend and keep the game scoreless at half time.
Greg Horlock and Warren Byerley picked up injuries in the first half, and had to be replaced in the interval. Hamworthy took the lead four minutes into the second half after being given a free kick out wide on the left wing. Mike Hubbard’s cleverly struck cross bounced just in front of the keeper before beating him and everybody else and go into the net to give United the lead. Jack Swann almost doubled the score when he jinxed through the Town defence, and just shot wide of the post. Hamworthy restricted New Milton to a few long shots which Wayne Robbins had no difficulty in dealing with. The score remained 1-0 at the finish, but New Milton deserved full marks for their effort, and for not giving up over the full ninety minutes. This was a good win for the Hammers against a team that Fareham, Bournemouth and Cowes have only beaten by the odd goal in recent weeks, and was never going to be an easy win.
Team: W. Robbins, S. Gilbert, M. Grimason, G. Horlock (A. Marsh), N. Walker, M. Dean, R. Middleton, M. Hubbard, J. Swann (D. Williams), W. Byerley (R.Dovell). Unused Sub: P. Kellaway.