Dorset Senior Trophy Semi - Final (Saturday 08-03-08)

Despite having much the better of the chances, and much more of the play the Reserves were made to battle right to the end of this match to go through to the final in April. Wareham from the Dorset Senior League never gave up, and with some good goalkeeping, and a little bit of luck ensured that they were in with a chance right up until the final whistle.

Wareham twice had the opportunity to take an early lead following a couple of defensive lapses. Luckily for the Hammers their keeper Dan Fawcett was alert to the dangers, and produced two good saves, the second with his feet. A strong wind made good football difficult, and both sides had problems finding their men. Hamworthy gradually got on top, and eventually took the lead midway through the first half with a Jack Swann goal. The first team man yet to reach full match fitness rose above everybody else to head home. He got on the end of a Mark Seal cross from the right to put the Hammers in front from close range. The Rangers made up for their lack of skill with some very physical challenges, and made sure that United knew that they were in a game. Despite having more of the play Hamworthy could not convert their superiority into goals, and the score remained 0-0 at the break.

The second half was dominated by the Reserves with the Rangers never really threatening the United goal, but for all their superiority Hamworthy could not find the back of the net again either. Wareham had their keeper to thank for keeping the goals against down to one, as he pulled off a number of very good saves in the second period. Steve Russell had a low shot pushed round the post, and from the resulting corner Michael Winn went close to scoring. A thunderbolt of a header by Carl Mutch was pushed on to the bar, and then over by the keeper just as the Hamworthy man looked certain to score. The Hammers back four plus Dan Fawcett  in goal never looked like conceding after the first fifteen minutes of the game. They turned out to be worthy winners at the final whistle albeit by just the single goal.

This was not a pretty game to watch, but the Reserves did what they had to do, and ground out a result. This means they now join the Hamworthy United Sunday, and Youth Teams in appearing in Cup Finals this year, and leaving just the first team without a chance of silverware at the end of the season.

Team: D. Fawcett, M. Seal, D. Rudd, M. Glavin, S. Griffiths, D. Frake (G. Williams), D. Orchard, M. Wynne (G.Clark), J. Swann, C. Mutch, S. Russell,  Unused Sub J. Reavenall-Nuete

Dorset County Youth League, Sunday, 9th March 2008

Westland Sports with this victory managed to do the double over the young Hammers, and at the same time replace them at the top of the table. Unfortunately, the ability to have the league title in their own hands may now also be taken away from the Hamworthy youngsters later this week, when a Disciplinary Hearing at DCFA will rule on an allegedly improperly registered player being used against Poole Town Wessex.

However, the players will reflect on key moments during both matches against their main rivals for the league, which could have made the end results so different.

Westland Sports started the match much brighter and sharper than the Hammers and scored what proved to be the only goal of the game during this opening 20 minute spell. A ball over the top of the defence was kicked into the Westland’s centre forward by Hammers’ keeper, James Gillingham, when he came rushing out of his goal to clear, leaving the player with a simple tap in to score. During this period of the game the Hammers looked unsettled at the back and also unable to get support to lone target man Josh Reavenall-Nuete.

But the tide then started to turn and for the remaining 70 minutes of the match the Hamworthy youngsters created and missed a succession of chances. Also, during a second half onslaught on the Westland’s goal the referee had perhaps the biggest say in the league title race when he ruled out what looked a perfectly fair Hamworthy goal when the Westland’s keeper spilled the ball in front of Josh Reavenall-Nuete.

Still those that remember the first match will recall the ‘golden chance’ missed by Luke Stone that was followed almost immediately by Westland’s last minute winner, and again, this time, it’s a similar story of what might have been!

It’s not over until it’s over and the Hammers must now look to take maximum points from their remaining games and hope that a combination of slip ups by Westland, and also a ‘fair minded’ decision at DCFA, will allow the league to be settled on the field of play rather than off it.

Team: Gillingham, Crossin, Cole (Cooper-Blayney), Byrne, MacDonald (Capt.), Pimm, Barnett (Watson), Grimason, Reavenall-Nuete, Macklin, Basing (Chappell)

Dorset County Youth Cup Semi-Final, Sunday, 2nd March 2008

A repeat of last year’s semi-final saw another late and dramatic victory for the Hamworthy youngsters, as they showed a tremendous will to win after finding themselves 2-1 behind with 10 minutes left, following two wonder strikes from Dorchester Town.

The Magpies stifled the Hammers in the first half, playing three centre backs and flooding the midfield, with the only decent spell of flowing football that Hamworthy were able to produce, resulting in Matt Grimason putting the home side one nil up. A lead they took into the break, but which they could have added to on a couple of occasions leading up to halftime.

With several of the Hamworthy youngsters performing below par, a strong and committed Dorchester made the second half a much more even contest, and it was not a complete surprise when the visitors equalised. After Matt MacDonald fouled the awkward Dorchester centre forward on the edge of the box, a superbly struck free kick from Dan Jones was sent straight into the top corner of the net, with keeper Sean Lillington not even moving in the Hamworthy goal.

Then with 10 minutes to go another long range effort, a speculative, looping, shot from 30 yards out, sailed over the keeper’s head to put the Hammers’ hopes of retaining the cup in doubt.

However, a combination of man of the moment Josh Reavenall-Nuete, and the introduction of centre forward Mike Haskell for right-back, Pete Chappell, changed the game back in the Hammers’ favour.

First Mike Haskell held the ball up on the edge of the box for the on rushing Josh Reavenall-Nuete to fire home a fantastic equaliser, before the same player sprinted clear, from a suspiciously offside position, to score a dramatic late winner and book a repeat of last year’s final with Chickerell.

Team: Lillington, Chappell (Haskell), Cooper-Blayney, Byrne, MacDonald, Pimm, Grimason, Norris, Reavenall-Nuete, Macklin (Watson), Gajic (Capt.) (Barnett)

South West Counties Youth League, Thursday, 28th February 2008

This top of the table clash in Division 2 of the SWCYL was a terrific advert for this level of the game. Both sides played fast, aggressive, attacking football that was excellent entertainment for a decent sized crowd, with Hamworthy needing to be at their best for the full 90 minutes to take the 3 points, against a side that had beaten them twice before this season.

After a competitive opening the Hammers took the lead from a well taken Richie Norris penalty. A fast flowing move started by a precise throw from goalkeeper, Phil Kellaway, released Dean Macklin, with Josh Reavenall-Nuete then latching onto a perfectly weighted Mark Claremont through ball, before he was brought down in the box when rounding the City Academy keeper. The halftime score 1-0 to the Hammers.

The Hammers started the second half with a flurry of chances, including midfielder Chia Khider hitting the post with a fiercely struck shot from the edge of the box, before a rare defence mix up between Matt MacDonald and Ross Pimm, let in a City Academy forward for the equaliser that had a suspicion of handball about it.

However, man of the match Josh Reavenall-Nuete then took centre stage, scoring with a towering header from a Jim Crossin corner, before rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home left footed for his second goal, to make the game and the three points safe.

Team: Kellaway, Seal, Crossin, Khider, MacDonald (Capt.), Pimm, Grimason, Norris, Reavenall-Nuete (Roushbiari), Claremont (Wheeler), Macklin

Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division (Sat 01-03-08)

The Hammers were unable to take full advantage of near rivals Brockenhurst’s surprise defeat at Ringwood the night before this game. Hamworthy could only manage a goalless draw after having the better of the few chances created in this game. To be fair Hamble are now a much better team since the New Year. They have lost just two of their last eleven matches. The two matches that they lost were against title contenders Wimborne Town, and Poole Town. Hamble were trying to complete the double over Hamworthy after beating United on their home ground only three weeks earlier.
The visitors started much the better of the two teams, and soon had the Hammers on the back foot. Martin Peters had to be very alert to make a very good save in the first few minutes. This was probably his most difficult save in the whole game. Hamble could not sustain their early pressure, and gradually Hamworthy got there own game going to even out the play. Both teams were using the long ball to clear any danger, and with both defences being on top, goal chances were very few, and far between. United’s best chance came shortly before half time when a great goal bound shot from outside the box by Ryan Dovell was tipped over at full stretch by keeper Dean Beal. From the resulting corner the Hamble defence looked ruffled for the first time in the game. They struggled to clear their lines which resulted in a desperate goal mouth scramble. Hamworthy were unable to take advantage however, and so the score remained 0-0 at the break.
Hamworthy always had the slight edge in the second half, but only really looked dangerous at set pieces. Hamble did get the ball into the net, but the Referee had already blown the whistle for pushing, and awarded the Hammers a free kick. Hamworthy’s best chance of the half came when Warren Byerley was found one on one with the keeper. Dean Beal came quickly out and smothered the ball before the United man could get his shot away. Phil Simkin brought on Jack Swann and Lee Thomas, but try as they may they could not break down a very solid defence. Hamworthy had much more of the play towards the end of the game, but never really looked like turning that advantage into goals. They could therefore not really complain at the 0-0 score line at the final whistle.
The one point gained from this match did however put United up into seventh place in the league, and so well on target for a top ten finish,

Team: M. Peters, J. Byrne, M. Hubbard, S. Golbert, N. Walker, M. Dean. S. Legg (J. Swann), R. Middleton. R. Dovell, W. Byerley (l. Thomas), R. Jackson.  Unused Subs C. Mutch, G. Horlock, M. Macdonald.

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.

Dorset County Youth League, Sunday, 25th February 2008

With Westlands dropping points, by drawing away at Weymouth FC, this impressive win took the Hammers back to the top of the table on goal difference.

It was a performance which demonstrated the depth of the Hamworthy Youth Team squad, and also its versatility to adopt differing styles of play, dependent on the game situation. In the first half when Poole played at a tempo that matched the Hammers, the home side employed a long ball game, using the pace of lone striker Mike Haskell to get in behind Poole’s back four, and from such a pass Mike Haskell put his side one nil up with a neat left footed finish.

The second half then saw an increasingly dominant Hamworthy score four further goals and play some excellent football, with good movement and fast accurate passing. A penalty was coolly dispatched by Captain, Charlie Gajic, after a hand ball incident, Dean Macklin hit a sweetly struck volley from the edge of the box to make it 3-0, and Craig Barnett then scored with a precise side footed finish after good work by Jordan Basing. Before substitute, debutant, Eddie Dennett set up Charlie Gajic to head home his second and the Hammers’ fifth.

Team: Lillington, O’Reilly, Cooper-Blayney, Crossin, Chappell, Pimm, Barnett, Macklin, Basing, Haskell (Dennett), Gajic (Capt.)

South West Counties Youth League, Saturday, 23rd February 2008

A couple of lapses in concentration, and an inability to unlock a well drilled Eastleigh defence, cost the young Hammers the chance to go second in the table, despite the home side’s domination of possession throughout match.

The game lacked the fluid passing of the previous week’s game and it was a lack of care in midfield that left a square Hammers’ back four exposed for Eastleigh to clinically take a one nil lead mid way through the first half.

Hamworthy continued to pen Eastleigh back in the second half, but without ever looking really threatening, until the introduction of Mark Claremont, midway through the half, improved the final delivery into the box. However, the home side were again undone by a rare Eastleigh attack, when they failed to deal with a free kick that ricocheted off their Captain, Matt MacDonald, and was put away at the far post by one of three Eastleigh forwards that were waiting to pounce.

The Hammers will need to be more creative in front of goal, and concentrate more in defence, if they are to get the better of league leaders City Academy, at home, this coming Thursday!

Team: Lillington, Seal, Crossin, Khider, MacDonald (Capt.), Pimm, Roushbiari (Chappell), Norris (Reavenall-Nuete), Godfrey (Claremont), Wheeler, Macklin

(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)

Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division (Saturday 23-02-08)

Hamworthy United dominated this match from start to finish just as they did in the first meeting between the two Clubs in October. This game however had a much different outcome to the 0-0 draw at the County Ground where the Town keeper Dan Chapman performed heroics to prevent the Hammers from scoring. United were pleased to see the return to the squad of Jack Swann, Michael Dean, and Ryan Middleton all from long term injuries.
Hamworthy started the game very brightly and took the game to the opposition right from the kick off playing some good controlled passing football. Hamworthy could have taken the lead after just two minutes when Ryan Dovell headed a Mickey Hubbard cross just wide. After some more good work between Joe Byrne and Mickey Hubbard the ball again reached Ryan Dovell who this time hit the crossbar. United were rewarded for their persistence when they were awarded a penalty after fifteen minutes. A long ball out of defence from Steve Gilbert found Richard Jackson out wide, but he was tripped as he cut into the box. Warren Byerley stepped up to give Chapman no chance from the penalty spot, and give United a well deserved lead. One minute before the break Hamworthy increased their lead from a free kick. Mickey Hubbards free kick was headed back across the goal by Nathan Walker to Ryan Dovell, He again sent the ball back across the face of the goal for Warren Byerley to tap in, and make it 2-0 halftime score line.
The Hammers continued to dominate after the beak, and it took just two minutes to increase their lead. The Town keeper so safe in the first game dropped a Hubbard free kick right at the feet of Ryan Dovell for an easy conversion. A piece of good football by Matt Grimason saw him play a neat one two before rounding the last defender, but this time the Alresford keeper did well to save with his legs. Chapman repeated this feat when he prevented Steve Legg from adding to the score by the same method. United did however go further ahead when Ryan Dovell once again found the back of the net following some neat interchanging with  Warren Byerley. A perfect game for the Hammers was spoiled once again in the last minute of normal time when Jamie Ross an Alreford substitute scored a consolation goal for the home side. This is the third game running this has happened to United, but fortunately this time it did not matter and should not detract from an otherwise very good all round team performance.

Team; M.Peters, J. Byrne (G. Horlock), M. Grimason, S. Gilbert, N. Walker, M. Dean, S. Legg, M. Hubbard, R. Dovell, W. Byerley (J. Swann), R. Jackson, Unuse Sub R. Middleton