HAMWORTHY UNITED RESERVES 2 CRANBORNE 0
Dorset Premier League (Saturday 03-01-08)
The Reserves got the New Year underway with a well deserved victory. In recent weeks they have been playing against teams that are in the title chase, and although they have played well they have never the less lost. In this game they were up against a mid table team who had beaten them 5-2 at Cranborne earlier on in the season, but were one that they had to beat to rise up the league. With the Under Eighteen side unfortunately now withdrawn from the South West Counties League it gave Gary Clark and Richard Flower more people to choose from.
The pitch was just about playable after a heavy frost the night before, but playing conditions were made difficult by the hard pitch. Hamworthy started the game the brighter of the two teams, but there was never a lot between the two sides. Most of the play in the first half took place in mid-field with both keepers only called upon to make routine saves, and neither came under any real pressure. It was therefore not surprising that the score remained 0-0 at the break a fair reflection of the game up to that point.
The Hammers were forced to make a half time substitution when Mark Seal was replaced by Lewis Williams because of an injury. Just as in the first half United started the second half on top, and were soon rewarded with a goal after just three minutes. Mark Claremont got into the Cranborne penalty box before cleverly beating two players, and laying the ball back for Gary Williams to score in the corner of the net. Cranborne raised their game as the match went on and for the first real time in the match began to exert some real pressure on the Hamworthy defence. Experienced Keeper Wayne Robbins did well to intercept a couple of dangerous crosses to keep his side in it and maintain their lead. As the game neared its close the Visitors threw more men forward in an effort to get something out of the game. This left them open to the counter attack and they fell further behind to one such attack in the final minute of the game. The ball was played down the left before it was crossed dangerously into the box. A clever dummy by Michael Wynne allowed the ball to go through his legs and on to the unmarked Lewis Williams. The young substitute who had played exceptionally well since his introduction did not panic, but coolly picked his spot to beat the Keeper. This win meant that Hamworthy rose three places up the table, and now face the team immediately above them in the next round.
Team: Wayne Robbins, Mark Seal (Lewis Williams), Sam Coakes, Sean Griffiths, Craig Miles, Sam Lanahan, Darren Orchard (Capt), M. Wynne, Mark Claremont (Shane Lee-Whaley), Gary Williams, Andy Powell. Unused Subs: Jay Keating, Sean Jones