HAMWORTHY UNITED RESERVES 0 HOLT UNITED 1
Dorset Premier League (Wednesday 16-04-08)
This was a game that Holt did not win, but one that Hamworthy United lost. Ill discipline saw the Reserves reduced to nine men for most of the second half when two players were sent off, after receiving two yellow cars each. It could be argued that the Refereeing was debateable at times, but having already received one yellow card then surely players must take extra care not to get a second.
The first half was very evenly contested, but with neither side able to get a telling shot on goal the score remained 0-0 at the break.
The second period began with the Hammers looking the better of the two sides, and for the first time the Holt goal came under serious pressure from a series of corners. Nathan Walker playing his last league game of the season went close from one of these, but could not find the net with his header. Darrell Williams was pulled back as he tried to get away from his man, but unfortunately he retaliated. He had already received a yellow card for dissent in the first half, and so was dismissed from the field for the second time in two games. Matters were made worse when Keith Middleton kicked the ball away, and was shown a second yellow following his first again for dissent reducing the team to nine. The remaining players battled bravely against the odds, and still probably had as much of the game as Holt, but it was the visitors who got the goal. The Hamworthy defence seemed sure that the goal was offside, and remained stationary as the Holt player found the back of the net, but the goal stood.
United continued to give as good as they got, but they were unable to get the goal and the draw that they probably deserved.
The result was all the more disappointing since the Holt side were no where near as good as their teams from recent years, and with a full side Hamworthy would surely have got something from the game. Discipline has not been very good at Hamworthy United Football Club this year with dissent being far and away the biggest reason for these bookings. Phil Simkin and the Officers of the Club are determined things must change next year. Bookings are expensive and often rob the team of important players in crucial games. Being booked for a hefty tackle or a hand ball is sometimes understandable, but being booked for dissent is not so easy to forgive
Team: P Kellaway, S. Griffiths (M. Seal), D. Frake, R. Flower, N. Walker, S.Russell (S. Leaton), D. Orchard, K.Middleton, S. Gilbert, G. Williams( L. Thomas). Unused Sub: G. Clark.