HAMWORTHY UNITED 2 POOLE TOWN 1
Sydenham Wessex Premier League (Wednesday 26-03-08)
What a difference a few days make. On Saturday Hamworthy dominated the game against Ringwood before losing it, and then four days later beat high fliers Poole Town. The Hammers had to come back from being a goal down at half time. This was after being on the back foot for most of the half, to win the game in front of a crowd of 184people. This result just about finishes any hopes that Poole may have had of winning the league.
Hamworthy were forced to defend right from the first whistle as Poole Town went in search of an early goal. United were having problems containing the very quick
Dolphins, a team that now include ex-Hammer Kevin Gill in their line up. After a spell of pressure the Hammers failed to clear their lines. The ball was worked back to Ian Richards who forced the ball over the line to make it 1-0 to the visitors after 19minutes. The rest of the half followed much the same pattern with Hamworthy only able to make the odd sporadic attack without really testing Jason Harvell in goal. To their credit Nathan Walker, and his men defended well. Despite all of Poole’s possession they never really looked like adding to their total. The Town’s finishing never really matched up to their approach work, and so the score remained at 1-0 at the interval.
Poole lined up differently after the break, pulling back the dangerous Kevin Gill into a more defensive role, and replaced the effective Aaron Skelton. The changes must have suited the Hammers because they were a different side in the second half. For the first time in the game they took the game deep into Dolphin territory. Nathan Walker saw his effort rattle off the crossbar as United’s confidence grew. They were to be rewarded for theirefforts in the sixty fifth minute, Mid-fielder Steve Legg latched on to a poor Harville clearance, and hit a great strike past the keeper from fully forty yards for the equaliser. Poole began to give away more free kicks, and it was from one of these that United took the lead. Hamworthy are always a threat from set pieces, and this time Mickey Hubbard found Nathan Walker at the near post. His well directed header found the bottom corner of the net. Poole seemed unable to raise their game again, and it was Hamworthy who came very close to going further ahead. A Mickey Hubbard shot just missed, before Warren Byerley out on the left went past two defenders, and ran into the box. He drew the keeper, and slid the ball past him, only to see his effort go inches past the far post. Unsung hero for the Hammers was Carl Mutch who battled bravely all game up front without personal reward, but for the benefit of the team.
This was a great team effort, and a great step towards finishing the season in the top ten, the target set at the start of the season.
Team: M. Peters, S. Gilbert, M. Grimason, G. Horlock, N. Walker, R. Dovell, S. Legg, M. Hubbard, C. Mutch, W. Byerley, r. Jackson. Unused Subs: R. Middleton M. Glavin, J. Crossin, J. Reavenall-Nute, Raisbiani