LAVERSTOCK & FORD 2 HAMWORTHY UNITED 3
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Tuesday25-11-08)
This was not one of the Hammers more entertaining wins as they struggled to overcome one of the teams battling in the relegation zone of the league. They created a lot of chances without much luck especially in the first half, but once again they were guilty of letting in a couple of sloppy goals. Phil Simkin was forced to make changes with players being ill, injured or unavailable. Top goal scorer Warren Byerley being one of them. The main thing was the fact they won not playing very well, and the win moves them up into joint twelfth place in the league, with games in hand of all their rivals.
Hamworthy playing for the first time ever at The Dell began the game kicking up the slope and soon went close with a Stuart Cannie shot just past the post. Laverstock took an early lead against the run of play when a long ball out to the left was fed into the middle. Hamworthy looked to have this covered, but a misunderstanding caused hesitancy between the Keeper and his defence. This allowed a Laverstock striker to take full advantage and open the scoring. United were back on level terms in the thirteenth minute from a corner headed in at the far post by Steve Gilbert. The Hammers always looked the more dangerous of the two sides. Stuart Cannie hit the ball just inches wide following his jinxing run into the box, and Max Crow hit the post with a header from an acute angle with the Keeper well beaten. Laverstock used the long ball out to attack Hamworthy when ever possible, but despite some good work were unable to get a real telling shot in on goal, and so the score remained 1-1 at the break.
Play continued in the second half much the same as in the first with United looking the more likely team to score. The Home side harassedand frustrated them at every opportunity, before hitting them on the break. The Hammers took the lead just before the hour when Sam Lockyer worked the ball down the left, and picked out Stuart Cannie, who then touched the ball on for Tom Jeffes to score. Just when it looked as if Hamworthy were in control Laverstock quickly broke out and once more caught the United defence off guard to score the equalizer. This only lasted a couple of minutes before Stuart Cannie was tripped from behind on the edge of the box as he ran in on goal with just the Keeper to beat. Tim Constable’s well struck free kick saw the ball hit the wall before looping over the Keeper,and into the net to restore the lead. The Hammers this time made sure they made no further mistakes to win the game 3-2 at the final whistle.
Team: M. Peters, S. Lockyer, M. Crow, S. Gilbert, N. Walker (Capt), K. Yelland, M. Dancer, R. Dovell, T. Constable, S. Cannie , T. Jeffes.
Unused Subs J. Cole, M Claremont.