HAMWORTHY UNITED 0 POOLE TOWN 1
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 27-12-08)
The game was played in freezing conditions with a strong wind blowing across the pitch. Taking these conditions into consideration, and bearing in mind that it was a local derby it was never going to be a football feast that the large 463 crowd could enjoy. Due to suspension both teams were without their top strikers Warren Byerley, and Charlie Austin with over twenty goals apiece, and so it is no surprise only one goal was scored. For the same reason the Hammers were also without First Team Regulars Richard McCabe and Ollie Cherrett, but this gave a chance for sixteen year old Sam Lanahan to take his place on the bench.
It was a tentative start by both sides as they tested each other out, but it did not take long for the only goal of the game to come, just eight minutes in fact, and what a bizarre goal it was. Ex-Hammer Kevin Gill collected the ball out on the right and delivered a high cross into the Hamworthy penalty box. The cross was misjudged by Keeper Martin Peters, and the ball went over his head and bounced dangerously in the six yard box. Captain Michael White attempted to hook the ball away, but only succeeded in slicing it goal wards. His second attempt to clear the ball only ended with the luckless United man heading it into his own net. This gave Poole just the start they needed to relieve any nerves they might have had. Poole probably just had the better of the exchanges in the first half making full use of their height advantage when the ball was up in the air, which was quite often. Neither team looked like adding to the score line before the break, the nearest being a wasted Dave Sturgess effort that went high and wide.
The Hammers came back more into the game in the second half having a lot more of the possession. Lamin Dibba was forced to give away a free kick right on the edge of the box, and was shown a yellow card .He was arguably the last man, and it could have been red with a less tolerant Referee. The normally reliable Town back four again showed signs of disarray when Mark Dancer was allowed to get in a shot that hit the post before being cleared. Shortly afterwards it was Poole’s turn to hit the woodwork when another ex Hammer Mike Walker headed a Micky Hubbard free kick against the top of the cross bar before it was cleared. There were no further goals, but Poole Town must have felt relieved to get all three points from this very closely contested local derby. United on the other hand must of felt they had done enough to deserve the draw, especially losing to such a farce of an own goal.
Team: M. Peters, M. Crow, S. Lockyer, G. Horlock, M. White (Capt), S. Gilbert, R. Dovell (K. Yelland), M. Dancer, S. Cannie, T. Jeffes, R. Jackson (M. Claremont) Unused Subs T. Vavrecka, S. Lanahan