(Saturday 26-07-08 (Friendly)
Hamworthy once again entertained a team from a higher league as part of their pre-season warm up. This time the visitors were Andover FC from the Southern League, they were promoted two years ago from the Sydenhams Wessex League. As in the Gosport game the difference in the finishing was the deciding factor. Hamworthy had probably done enough to have warranted a draw over the ninety minutes, but were made to pay for their missed chances.
Andover got into their stride a lot quicker than the Hammers, and twice in the opening few minutes could, and should have taken the lead. They had the Hamworthy United defence at full stretch, but missed the target on both occasions. The Home Side were not let off the hook for long however. A ball from the left was met by an attacker who appeared to be in an offside position. He became active when Martin Peters pushed away the shot to another Andover man who scored. The Referee however disagreed and allowed the goal. To their credit the Hammers tightened up their game, and came much more into the match to level things up. Warren Byerley looked as if he must score when he beat the offside trap, and was left one on one with the Andover keeper. The Hamworthy man who is United’s top scorer so far this season hit the ball high, and wide however. The Hammers were to be rewarded for their extra effort however when that same player Warren Byerley rose to head home, and level the scores shortly before half time.
Hamworthy started the second half much better than they did first in the searing heat, and soon created opportunities to take the lead. Ben Osborne should have given United the lead, but had his shot blocked by the advancing keeper in another one on one situation. The Andover Keeper made another fine save from Ryan Dovell following a jinxing run into the box by the United man. Just as it looked as if Hamworthy had the game under control, Andover snatched back the lead. A top drawer finish gave Martin Peters no chance, and within two minutes he was beaten again by another top class strike. A free kick was awarded just outside the box and the ball was despatched into the top corner of the net before anybody could move, and so made it 3-1 to the Visitors. United were still not finished. They came back strongly in the closing minutes, and scored with a classy strike of their own by Mark Claremont a product of last year’s Under Eighteen Squad. He did well to retain his balance, and cool when having his shirt pulled as he ran into the box .This was before he slotted the ball past the Keeper and into the corner of the net for United’s second. Time ran out unfortunately as the Hammers struggled for an equaliser. In the end they were once again beaten, but not disgraced by a higher ranked team. There were however plenty of plusses to come out of the game for Phil Simkin to ponder over, and this with one or two key players missing.

Friendly (Tuesday 22-07-08)
Hamworthy took only thirty minutes to take full control, and put this game beyond the young visitors reach. Portsmouth contained several English and French Youth Internationals as well as a few trialists in their Squad. The Hammers fielded a few new faces as well in the second half, whilst Pompey made an almost complete team change, bringing on a few of their more experienced players.
Hamworthy took the game to the opposition right from the kick off, and soon took control of play. The young Pompey team were finding life difficult against a stronger team that were able to match them for speed and passing ability. Hamworthy soon opened the scoring when Richard Jackson met a good cross from the left to head home. Pompey could not match their often good approach work with the sort of finish required, and never really got a clear shot in on goal. It took the Hammers just seven minutes to add a second when Ryan Dovell scored the first of his two goals on the night, to double the lead. United virtually put the game out of Pompey’s reach when Richard Jackson scored the third with less than twenty five minutes played. Portsmouth did pull a goal back five minutes before the break thanks to a rare blunder by Keeper Martin Peters. The Hammers keeper dwelt on the ball for too long, and his clearance was blocked by an oncoming Pompey man who had no difficulty in steering the ball into an empty net.
Portsmouth decided to tighten things up in the second half, and brought on their more experienced players to try and rescue the situation. The game was now more even and Pompey certainly looked a bigger threat than they did in the first half, but it was the Hammers who again found the net again This time it was Ryan Dovell who climbed above his marker to head home his second, and Hamworthy’s fourth goal. Pompey had their chances to reduce the lead, but could not find the back of the net again. The closest they came was when Matt Richie who played against AFC Bournemouth the night before hit the bar from close range.

This was a good work out for the Wessex league Side in what was a competitive match against a team of youngsters all hoping one day to play Premiership football. They may have been young, but they are the cream of their age group and all tried to play good football, whilst trying to impress. Phil Simkin will be very pleased with this second 4-1 friendly win on the trot, and also with the form shown by his Team.

(Friendly Sat 19-07-08) Dorchester Town dominated the game against the Hammers earlier in the week, but this time it was United’s turn to take control of the match. Apart from a ten minute spell early in the second half the Home side had much the better of things, and never really looked like doing anything other than winning the match. United were forced to play central defender Steve Gilbert in goal when Martin Peters had to work, and his replacement was taken ill just before the start. Hamworthy took the game to their Dorset Premier League opponents, and soon had them on the back foot. It came as no surprise when the Hammers superior speed and passing ability was rewarded with a goal. Striker Ben Osborne, a summer signing from Poole Town gave the Home side the lead with a cool finish. The lead was doubled soon after with the best goal of the game. Warren Byerly was falling backwards at the time that he was found on the edge of the box with a good cross. As he was falling he volleyed the ball into the far top corner of the net giving the Recreation Keeper no chance. The visitors almost pulled a goal back when they struck the bottom of the post, but this was as close as they got. They hardly troubled Stand in Keeper Gilbert in the first half, who was no doubt thankful not to be busy. Hamworthy Rec came more into the game in the second half, and must have thought they were in with a chance when they pulled a goal back fifteen minutes into the second period. A quick ball out of defence for once found the United defence wanting, and allowed former Hammer Ryan Lucas to slip the ball past the advancing Keeper. The two goal advantage was quickly restored after Stewart Cannie was brought down as he weaved his way into the penalty box. Warren Byerley stepped up to convert from the spot. United added a fourth goal when substitute and under eighteen player Jordan Cole headed home a Max Crow cross shortly before the end.

Friendly (Tuesay 15-07-08)
This game was overshadowed by the sad news that new signing Tom Vavrecka who had played so well against Gosport on Saturday, was now in the intensive care unit at Southampton Hospital, after being attacked on Sunday night. Dorchester produced an impressive performance at the County Ground, and the Blue Square South Team paid the Hammers the compliment of fielding eighteen full time professionals in their side.
After starting well, Hamworthy went close after 15 minutes when Michael Dean rattled the Dorchester crossbar from a free kick. Kevin Hill was injured by a high challenge from Joe Byrne when the United player lost the ball in the sun, and for which he was harshly booked. The Dorchester man returned to the field of play ten minutes later, and went on to open the scoring in the 29th minute . Nick Crittenden’s superb crossfield pass was laid off by Jamie Mudge for Hill to rifle into the far corner from 25 yards. Two minutes after Hill’s strike, Forbes picked up Patrece Liburd’s clearance, and scored with a low drive in off the far post. The score remained 2-0 at the interval.
In the second half, Hamworthy were again undone when they failed to cut out a long ball, and Mudge rounded keeper Martin Peters to slot home Dorchester’s third.The fourth goal came in the 70th minute when substitute Leon Osei’s pinpoint delivery found Ex Bournemouth player Moss, who fired home from close range. The Hammers were reduced to ten men 17 minutes from time when Mark Dancer was dismissed for foul and abusive language. Five minutes later Hamworthy went further behind when another substitute Bill Puckett added a fourth goal. Skipper Nathan Walker gave Hamworthy the goal they deserved just before the end, when he cheekily back-heeled the ball into the net following some late Home pressure.

Friendly Match ( 12-07-08)

Despite the result Phil Simkin must have been much the happier of the two managers at the end of this game. For large parts of the match the Hammers were much the better side against Alex Pike’s Gosport Borough from the Southern League.
Hamworthy could, and should have been at least two goals up in the first quarter of an hour. Michael Dean had the Gosport Keeper at full stretch to save from his free kick, and new signing Tom Vavreka hit the post from close range. Gosport did take the lead seven minutes before half time against the run of playwith their first real effort on goal. They took full advantage of some hesitancy in the up till then very solid United defence (average age nineteen,) to score.
Both Teams made changes after the break, Gosport more so than Hamworthy.
Shortly after the restart Steve Gilbert headed home at the far post following some fine approach work involving several Hamworthy players. Just when it looked as if the Hammers would get at least a draw The Referee’s Assistant indicated a penalty for Gosport following a Richard Jackson missed timed tackle. The Borough converted from the spot with less than ten minutes to go to give them the win that their play probably did not deserve.
Hamworthy can take plenty of plusses from this match. All their new signings all gave good accounts of themselves, and on this display the Hammers certainly look a more complete outfit than last year. Provided they can keep hold of these players, and can keep injury free, they should improve on the successes of last season and go better than their 10th place league position this session.