HAMWORTHY UNITED 3 BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS 0
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 29-11-08)
A spirited second half display from the Hammers saw them through to a comfortable 3-0 win. This did not look possible at half time when a draw looked the most likely out come. Hamworthy have now scored eight goals in their last three games, and even more important about this match was the fact that they did not concede any. This has only happened so far in one previous league game this season. United started with the same line up that beat Shrivenham in the Vase so new signing Sam Lockyer had to begin on the bench.
Goal scoring opportunities were very rare in the first half with both defenses on top for most of the time. The Hammers lost Ollie Cherrett early in the game to a block tackle that left him needing a stretcher, and possible ligament damage. The Harlequin player must have been very relieved to have only received a yellow card, and not a red from the Referee. Martin Peters had to make a very good save and push a goal bound shot round the post in Bemerton Heath’s best effort of the game. United were also relieved when Cherrett’s replacement Greg Horlock sliced the ball over his own cross-bar as he attempted to clear, soon after coming on. The score remained 0-0 at the break.
The visitors started the second period much the better of the two teams, but soon found themselves a goal down. United broke out of defense eight minutes into the second half, and were awarded a corner. Steve Gilbert nodded the cross on for Stuart Cannie to beat his fellow Striker Warren Byerley striker to the ball, and head home. The goal appeared to relieve the pressure on the Hamworthy team, and they now began to control the game. United deservedly increased the lead in the sixty third minute with a move started, and finished by Warren Byerley. He found Stuart Cannie in the corner with a good pass, who then delivered a dangerous cross into the six yard box. Substitute Sam Lockyer just failed to make contact, but top goal scorer Byerley was on hand to drive the ball low into the net. The Hammers were now well on top with the Quins never really looking like getting back into the game. The game was put completely out of their reach shortly before the end of play. Stuart Cannie was found by an accurate long pass over the top from the Hamworthy half. He kept his cool to run straight through a now dispirited Bemerton Heath defense to score his second, and United’s third goal to complete a very satisfactory double over the Salibury side.
Team: M. Peters, M. Crow, R. Dovell, O. Cherrett (G. Horlock), N. Walker (Capt), S. Gilbert, T. Constable (S. Lockyer), M. Dancer, S. Cannie, W. Byerley( T. Jeffes) K. Yelland. Unused Sub: L. Thomas