HAMWORTHY UNITED 1 BROCKENHURST FC 0
Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division SAT (12-01-08)
Hamworthy United got back to winning ways after their disappointing defeat at Lymington Town on Tuesday. Phil Simkins opted for youth giving Youth Team player seventeen year old Joe Byrne his first start in the Premier League at right back. Joe was joined in the starting line up by seventeen year old Mat Grimason who is now an established first team player, and eighteen year old striker James Pinder making his second start since joining the Hammers.
The first half was a fairly evenly matched game with both sides cancelling one another out. United started the game slightly the better of the two sides, and it took Brockenhurst a while to get their game going. James Pinder, and Ryan Dovell were proving to be very lively in attack, but were prevented from getting a clear strike on goal by a resolute Brockenhust defence. Half time came with neither Keeper really tested despite long spells of end to end play as both teams struggled to get on top.
Brockenhurst enjoyed their best attacking moments of the game in the first few minutes of the second half when they forced a series of corners. For a while United were unable to clear the ball as it bounced dangerously about the six yard box. A goal line clearance finally got the ball away to relieve the pressure on the Home Side. To their credit the Hammers got straight back into the game and should have taken the lead when Ryan Dovell had a clear sight of goal, but blasted the ball over the bar. This always looked as if one goal would settle the game, and it was Hamworthy who got it in the sixty seventh minute. Joe Byrne enjoying his first senior game sent in a tantalising cross from the right that was headed goal-wards by Ryan Dovell. The Brock Keeper could only palm the ball away to where Richard Jackson was waiting in the six yard box to smash it home. United almost increased their lead within a minute of the restart when the Brockenhurst Keeper dropped a cross at the feet of Steve Gilbert. The tall central defender with his back to the goal performed an overhead bicycle shot that just clipped the top of the bar before going over. Both teams were reduced to ten men following a rash two footed tackle on Micky Hubbard by the Brockenhurst substitute, who had only just came on. This earned the Brock man a straight red card from the Referee, and following the intervention of his Assistant he also sent Micky Hubbard off for retaliation. The remaining ten minutes were played out with no further incidents leaving the Hammers with a hard earned well deserved win.
Team: M. Peters, J. Byrne, M. Grimason, S. Gilbert, N. Walker, M. Dean, R. Middleton, M. Hubbard, J. Pinder, R. Dovell, R. Jackson Unused Subs: C.Mutch, D. Baguely, A. Marsh, B. Williams, G. Horlock.