HAMWORTHY UNITED 0 HAYLING 0
Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division (Saturday 02-02-08)
Once again Phil Simkin had to make several changes from the team that played against Brockenhurst on the previous Tuesday. Michael Dean picked up a last minute injury in that game, Tom Stone was not available, and Micky Hubbard started a three match suspension. Plus of course all those already unable to play for one reason or another, but It was not all doom and gloom however for the Hammers with Captain Nathan Walker, and Joe Byrne returning to the side.
Hamworthy went straight on the attack, and it took a good diving save by the visiting keeper to prevent James Pinder slotting the ball past him after he had made a good run into the box. A Greg Horlock effort bounced off the top of the bar before going over, as the Hammers kept up the early pressure. Carl Mutch was sent tumbling in the box following what appeared to be a clumsy tackle, but all appeals for a spot kick were waved away by the Referee. The Islanders gradually got into the game, making a few attacks of their own, but none dangerous enough to bother Martin Peters in goal. The young Hammers back four once again excelled themselves snuffing out any Hayling attacks before they could get a shot on goal. Hamworthy were fairing no better. Lee Thomas and Michael Pinder’s pace were giving the Islander’s defence plenty to think about, but the Hammers too were unable to finish. This resulted in a 0-0 half-time score line.
In the second half play was often end to end as both teams went for a win, but with Hamworthy always looking to have the edge. Lee Thomas was brought down on the edge of the box, but Carl Mutch shot the free kick tamely wide . It looked as though Hamworthy were about to score when the Referee judged that Lee Thomas had handled the ball when on the ground, and a yard off the goal line. Most nearby onlookers thought the ball clearly struck his chest, and not his arm. The Hammers again came within a hairsbreadth of scoring following a good run up the right wing by Joe Byrne. His perfect cross into the box just missed Thomas’s outstretched boot by a whisker with the goal at his mercy. It was not all one way however, and Hayling did their fair share of attacking, but only once looked like beating Martyn Peters, and that would have been an own goal. A cross into the box was deflected goal wards by Greg Horlock. The ball looked as though it would creep just inside the post until Martin Peters dived to save. The score remained goalless at the end of play with Hayling feeling slightly the happier of the two sides with the result.
All though many will look at this result as two points dropped by the Hammers the loss of three games on the trot needed to be halted, and Hayling are a better side than their league position suggests having now gone five games without loss.
Team: M. Peters, M. Glavin, J.Byrne, G. Horlock, N. Walker, R. Middleton, S.Legg, , J. Pinder, C. Mutch, L.Thomas (W. Byerley), R. Jackson. Unused Subs: M. Glavin, A. Marsh, R. Norris, S. Roushbaiani.