HAMWORTHY UNITED 3 HAYLING UNITED 1
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 25-10-08)
The Hammers recorded their first home league win of the season in some style beating sixth placed Hayling United with considerable ease. With a little bit of luck the winning margin could easily have been doubled, with Hamworthy hitting the bar three times during the game.
Hamworthy took command of the game right from the start taking the game to the opposition with some good flowing football. They were awarded a free kick some thirty yard out in the twelfth minute. Ollie Cherrett struck the ball home with such force that the keeper hardly had time to move before it was in the net. Martin Peters had to be alert to push away a dangerous cross heading into the path of two unmarked Haling attackers. Richard Jackson should have scored with just the Keeper to beat, but had his shot smothered by the Hayling man. The Islanders did get back on level terms when against the run of play they were awarded a penalty. This was awarded for a mistimed tackle by Richard Mc Cabe . It did not take the Hammers long to restore their lead however, albeit from a somewhat lucky source. A looping cross from Tim Constable was misjudged by the keeper, who let it go thinking the ball was going out. The ball rebounded off the far post hit the keeper on the head before it dropped at Tom Jeffes’s feet for him to stab it home. Hamworthy went in at the break with a well deserved lead.
The Home side upped their game even more after the break, and were unlucky not to score when Tom Jeffes’s spectacular overhead kick just grazed the top of the cross bar, before going over. The Hammers increased their lead with another well taken goal. Warren Byerley held the ball up on the edge of the box before slotting it wide to Richard Jackson who slammed the ball into the far corner of the net. The same player nearly scored his second following another good move, but once again the cross bar came to Hayling’s rescue. Hamworthy were reduced to ten men when Richard McCabe was given his marching orders following a second yellow card. Warren Byerley was desperately unlucky not to have got onto the score sheet when he picked up the ball just inside the opposing half. He turned the Hayling defenders inside out before he smashed another great shot against the crossbar. The Islanders should have pulled a goal back shortly towards the end of play, but the attacker shot high and wide over the bar with just Martin Peters to beat.
This was a good all round team effort, and by far the Hammers best league performance so far this season, matching some of their earlier cup games.
Team: M. Peters, M. Crow, R. Jackson, O. Cherrett, N. Walker (Cpt) S. Gilbert, R. McCabe, M. Dancer, T. Jeffes( G. Horlock) W. Byerley, T. Constable. Unused Subs: S. Cannie, M. Claremont, J. Cole.