DOWNTON 1 HAMWORTHY UNITED 4
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Tuesday26-02-08)
For the second game running Hamworthy recorded a 4-1 away win to boost their goal difference. It was not an easy night against the League’s bottom team who made up for their lack of skill at times with being a bit more physical, and so earned themselves several yellow cards in the process. The pitch was also uneven making play on the ground more difficult.
The Hammers went on the attack from the first whistle, and went ahead with one of the best goals they have scored all season, after only two minutes. It started with Michael Dean picking out Ryan Dovell out on the left wing with a superb pass. Ryan hit a first time deep cross that was met by Warren Byerley sliding in at the far post to finish off a magnificent move with a great goal. Hamworthy continued to dominate the play restricting the home side to only the occasional attack. Hamworthy had Wayne Robbins deputising between the sticks for the unavailable Martin Peters, but apart from one period in the second half he was not kept that busy. United doubled their lead on the half hour from a Mickey Hubbard free kick which resulted in a scramble in the six yard box, and a Downton defender putting the ball into his own net. The third goal nine minutes later also came from a corner which was headed back across the goal by Steve Gilbert for Warren Byerley to score his second from close range. The whistle blew at half time with the Hammers sitting comfortably on a 3-0 lead.
Downton came into the game a bit more after the break, and to their credit at no time gave up trying. They did not look like scoring however until the Hamworthy defence did not close down Ollie Hoare quick enough, and his shot found the roof of the net in the fifty sixth minute to give his team a slight hope. Captain Nathan Walker ended any such hope with a diving header from yet another Mickey Hubbard corner to restore Hamworthy’s three goal lead. This they kept until the end of play.
Jack Swann got through another short run out, and now looks set for a start soon, and Ryan Middleton played a half for the first time since his return from injury.
Michael Glavin came on for the last ten minutes against the team he played for before transferring to United.
Team: W. Robbins, S. Gilbert, M. Grimason, G. Horlock (R. Middleton), N. Walker, M. Dean, S. Legg (M. Glavin), M. Hubbard, R. Dovell, W. Byerley, R. Jackson. Unused Subs: C. Mutch, M. Macdonald.