(Dorset Premier League Cup Saturday 23-02-08)

This was a game that meant little to either team except perhaps for a bit of pride. Gillingham had already won the mini-league, and go through to the semi-final. Hamworthy were once again unable to play some players because they were already cup tied, but this enabled several Youth Team players to show what they could do. Three started the game, and two more came on as substitutes.
There was nothing much to chose between the sides in the first half with neither team creating a clear cut goal chance. The experienced Sturminster keeper had to spread himself to take a couple of Hamworthy attempts, but never looked like being beaten. His opposite number in the Hammers goal also dealt easily with anything that came his way, and it was to nobody’s surprise the score remained goalless at the Referees half time whistle.
Things did brighten up a little in the second half, but neither Team looked like breaking the deadlock until Gary Williams was put through one on one with the Sturminster keeper. The large imposing Keeper rushed out to narrow the angle and dived to save an almost certain goal. Within a minute Sturminster Newton took the lead following a free kick which was not cleared properly. The Hamworthy defence were made to pay dearly for their hesitation as the ball flew into the net past Dan Fawcett with seventy minutes played. Ten minutes later Hamworthy were back on level terms thanks to a Darren Orchard penalty after the Sturminster keeper had fouled inside the box. He was the last defender and therefore probably should have been red carded, but he received only a yellow for protesting too much, and stayed on the pitch. The Hammers had another strong appeal for a penalty turned down a few minutes later when the same player appeared to bring down lively substitute Josh Reavenall-Nuete as he tried to go round him. Just as the game was ending, and a draw looked a fair result Hamworthy were hit by a last minute winner. Once again the defence just switched off for a second, but this was long enough for Stuart Frear to hit another unstoppable strike past the helpless Dan Fawcett, and give the North Dorset men a win they probably did not deserve on the day.

Team: D. Fawcett, M. Seal, M. MacDonald, S. Griffiths, M. Glavin, D.Rudd, D. Orchard, C. Khinder (C. Barnett), M. Wynne, G. Williams, D. Frake( J. Reavenall-Nuete)

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