Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (24-02-08)

Following their recent 1-0 Wessex Cup win at Alresford Town, United knew that this was not going to be an easy game for them. Phil Simkin once again had to reshuffle the defence because of Steve Gilbert’s work commitments. They were however able to welcome back Karl Yelland to the bench after recovering from his lengthy injury, and Mark Kenway for his first game since his return.
Alresford started the game much stronger than the Hammers kicking with the slope in their favour. They soon tested United with a quick break and shot that just drifted wide of the post. The Town’s pressure paid off when a high ball in to the far post bounced awkwardly and found an Alresford player whose shot was well saved by Martin Peters. The United Keeper unfortunately could only push the ball onto the post, and the rebound landed right in the path oftop scorer Stuart Findley who had no trouble in finding the net. As the half progressed Hamworthy came more into the game producing a couple of good chances of their own. One of these, an Ollie Cherrett free kick hit the angle of bar and post with the Alresford Keeper rooted to the spot. Despite now having more of the play Hamworthy were unable to draw level before the interval.
Hamworthy dominated most of the play in the second half, and almost pulled one back when Warren Byerley shot just over shortly after the restart. Alresford spent most of the second half defending their slender lead and tried to hit Hamworthy on the break with the long ball out of defence. With the help of a Referee who was not enjoying the best of games it looked as though they might well hold on for the win. With the match slipping away, and ten minutes remaining United at last got a bit of luck. A Town defender failed to clear the ball further than the edge of the penalty box straight into the path of Richard Jackson who came to his team’s rescue for the second game running. His shot was deflected past the keeper into the bottom corner of the net to bring the scores level. Hamworthy now chased the winner which led to some desperate defending at times by the home team. Simon Daunter was sent off for a two footed lunge at Ollie Cherrett . This resulted in the Hamworthy Captain having to go off, and he was substituted by Karl Yelland. For the remainder of the game it was all Hamworthy, but time run out and they had to settle foe a hard earned draw. The two teams meet again for the third time this season at the County Ground in the next Home game.

Team: M. Peters, M. White, R. Jackson, O, Cherrett (K. Yelland), G. Horlock,M.Kenway, R. McCabe, M. Dancer ,S. Cannie (C. Mutch) W. Byerley, Unused Subs: J. Crossin

The Reserves did well to concede only one goal in the second half after letting in four in the first period. This was another big learning curve for a team packed with youngsters against a good side who were more experienced and physically stronger than them.
As to be expected the visitors had the better of the early exchanges, and just as it looked as if the Hammers had weathered the early storm Chickerell scored. They were awarded a free kick that was only half cleared to just outside of the box. Liam Miles collected the ball and scored from twenty yards out with a shot that flew into the top of the net. The Hammers equalized soon after following a well taken corner from Darren Orchard. He picked out Mark Jamison at the far post who scored with a well placed header that gave the keeper no chance. Unfortunately for the Reserves some poor defending allowed Chickerell to score two quick goals and set them right back on their heels. A fourth goal just before half time meant that the game was virtually over by the interval.
Hamworthy defended a lot better in the second half and did well to restrict the Visitors to just one further goal in the match. Mark Seal must take a lot of the credit for this, twice making last ditch goal line clearances when a goal looked certain. Despite the score Mark Jamison, Mark Seal, Lewis Williams and substitute Luke Wadley all showed that they have plenty to offer at this level, and will only get better with time.
Team: T.Rees (L.Wines), M.Seal, C. Miles, R. Flower. M.Jamison, M. Wynne (L.Wadley), D. Orchard, L.Pidgley, G. Williams, Lewis Williams, L. Reynolds

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (21-02-08)
Once again the Hammers struggled against a team from the bottom of the league, but were this time able to come away with all three points. Goalkeeper Martin Peters returned to the side after missing the Newport game due to his recent marriage.
Hamworthy began the match kicking down the slope thus giving them a first half advantage, but found themselves a goal down after only four minutes. Martin Peters and Greg Horlock collided as they both went to clear, but the ball hit Greg’s knee, and went in the net instead. Despite this setback it was United who were on top and they were given a good chance to equalize when they were awarded a free kick in a very dangerous position. Warren Byerley’s shot was blocked by the wall however, and the ball cleared to safety. The Horndean Keeper was red carded for bringing down Byerley, and handling the ball outside the box when the Hamworthy striker was in on goal. The Home team took off a forward, and the Reserve Keeper went in goal. A second own goal, this time by a Horndean defender led to the equalizing goal. Under pressure he headed an Ollie Cherrett lobbed centre into his own net. Hamworthy had several more chances to take the lead before they did so with a Steve Gilbert goal. A Mark Dancer centre was only half cleared, and was headed back by Greg Horlock before Gilbert deflected the ball past the Keeperto make it 2-1 to United at the interval.
The second half saw Horndean kicking with the slope, and having much more of the play. They deservedly got back on level terms after sixty five minutes, and were now looking the favourites to go on and win the game. Martin Peters had to pull off a magnificent save to keep the scores level as Horndean went for the winner. With time running out it took a bit of individual skill to win the game for the Hammers. Richard Jackson chased down a fifty fifty ball with a Horndean  defender, and forced him into a mistake before hammering the ball past the Keeper from distance to give his team all three points.
This was a game that in previous seasons the Hammers would have drawn, or even lost so for that reason alone Hamworthy should be pleased. The win takes them up a place in the table two points above Newport and still with a good chance of finishing higher than last seasons tenth place

Team: M. Peters, M. White, R. Jackson, O, Cherrett, G. Horlock, S. Gilbert, R. McCabe, M. Dancer ,S. Cannie (J. Crossin), W. Byerley, C. Mutch (T. Vavrecka). Unused Subs: Unused Sub G. Clark

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (14-02-09)

A big improvement by the Hammers was needed in this game following the poor performance against VTFC the week before. Although there was an improvement with twenty minute of the game left they were 2-0 down, and facing another Home defeat. The introduction of Carl Mutch changed the game, and led to United getting back on level terms before the end of the match. His physical presence rattled the Moneyfield defence into conceding two late goals, and earned his side a draw against the team third in the table.
Moneyfields put United under early pressure, forcing Martin Peters into a couple of good saves in the first quarter. Hamworthy gradually got into the game, but were finding it difficult to get past the opposing defence, and get a good strike in on goal. The Visitors opened the scoring after thirty three minutes with a goal from Graham Gee. He picked up the ball out on the right wing before cutting into the penalty box, and firing it past the helpless Martin Peters to make it 1-0. Neither side was able to add to the scoring in the remaining part of the first half.
The Hammers started the second half much better, but were still lacking penetration in the last quarter of the pitch. They were restricted mainly to long shots at goal that gave Dean Harris no problems to deal with. Moneyfield’s front men still looked the more dangerous of the two attacks. Martin Peters had to be brave to dive and save at the feet of an oncoming forward in a one on one situation. The visitors added a second goal with just twenty minutes remaining, and take what looked like looked like a winning lead. All this was to change with introduction of Carl Mutch. For the first time in the game the Moneyfield defence came under real pressure. They found the physically strong substitute difficult to cope with. United pulled a goal back shortly after the substitution when a free kick was knocked into the six yard box. The ball evaded several outstretched legs before it reached Warren Byerley who did find the net with his effort. The goal lifted the Hammers, and following a period of pressure they brought the scores level from a corner. Carl Mutch out jumped his marker to send a thunderous header into the top corner of the net to make it 2-2 with still ten minutes play remaining. Both teams now went in search of a winner. The Hammers cause was not helped by Steve Gilbert being sent off for the second time in two games for a rash jump tackle. In the last few minutes it looked as if Moneyfieds must score, but once again Martin Peters made a superb save diving at the attacker’s feet to cap an excellent match for the Hamworthy Keeper. When the final whistle blew Phil Simkin must have been a much happier man than he was at the same time a week ago.
Team: M. Peters, M. White, G. Clark, O, Cherrett, G. Horlock, S. Gilbert, R. Dovell, M. Dancer (C. Mutch), S. Cannie, W. Byerley, R. Jackson. Unused Subs: T. Vavrecka, S. Lanahan,M. Kenway.

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 07-02-09)
Report From The Sydenhams Wessex Website
The fact that this game went ahead was down to the local support clearing the pitch and surrounds of ice and snow after the atrocious weather on Friday afternoon. Had they known how the game was going to end one wonders how many would have bothered. Despite all this the crowd of 123 witnessed a clinical display of finishing from the Southampton visitors.

Hamworthy were almost caught out in the 3rd minute, VT won a corner and from it Gibbens flicked the ball goalwards only to see Crow on the post to hack it out from under the crossbar and although Sales was on hand he wasn’t able to make the most of the opening.
Crow was again involved minutes later. He picked up a wayward pass from Byron Mason but the attack broke down. VT were quick to regain the ball and Lockyer impeded Brewster. Ashford’s free kick from around 25 yards was straight at Peters though.
In the 13th minute Brewster was again in an advanced position and his cross tested Peters under pressure from Bowers.Cherrett had a good free kick from near half way that forced the hosts’ first and only corner of the first half on 17 minutes, a minute later the big central defender made a timely challenge on Gibbens. But the writing was on the wall on 20 minutes when Brewster picked out Hunt who lobbed the ball over Peters into an empty net only to see his effort ruled out for offside.A subsequent free kick from Ashford wasn’t cleared hitting Byerley on the way through but VT picked up the loose ball Sales winning it at the edge of the penalty area and Hunt was the first to react and headed it over Peters from close in. The crowd had barely enough time to draw breath before VT doubled their lead. Hunt won the ball in front of goal and played it to the far post and Ashford thundered the ball home.Hunt was tormenting the home defence and a couple of minutes later he was able to outpace Cherrett and set up Byron Mason, but he wasted the chance.In the 36th minute VT extended their lead when Hunt was able to pick up the pieces and convert from an acute angle the ball taking a slight deflection into the net.n added on time both sides were reduced to ten men. Bright made a bad challenge on Cannie and the striker reacted and a melee involving around 15 players ensued before both players were sent from the field of play.

The Hammers were kicking towards the School end in the second period and introduced Holland and Vavrecka to try and turn things around, but the game was already almost beyond their reach and with five second minutes gone it was when Hunt had a free header after an exquisitely delivered cross from Ashford.Hamworthy were reduced to nine men when Gilbert was dismissed bringing down Sales in the penalty area denying a goal scoring opportunity. Gibbens made no mistake from the spot to make it five.Holland seemed to add a bit more urgency to the home attack and just on the hour mark had a curling effort flash round the post.
VT added a sixth three minutes later when Sales had plenty of space 18 yards out and had time to control the ball and pick his spot after an unselfish square ball from Ashford saw him in the open. It was Ashford again who helped set up the next goal on 64 minutes. His superb cross field ball picked out Hunt and he was able to slide the ball past Peters at the back post.
The eighth and final goal came with six minutes left on the clock and saw Ashford make a mazy run without facing any real challenge from the home defence and was able to curl the ball into the bottom corner. To be honest VT should have easily reached double figures today and the eventual score line was a true reflection of a game that Hamworthy didn’t really seem to be up for.
Team: M.Peters, M. White, S. Lockyer, O. Cherrett (M.Sault), G. Horlock, (J. Holland), S. Gilbert, G. Clark(T. Vavrecka, M. Crow, S. Cannie, W. Byerley,R. Jackson.

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 31-01-09)
 
The Islanders proved to be much stiffer opposition in this game than the last one three weeks ago when the Hammers were easy 4-0 winners. Michael White was unavailable due to sickness to add to the lengthy list of unfit Hamworthy players, but Stuart Cannie was able to return following a hand injury.
United started the game facing a strong wind, but still had the upper hand in the early exchanges. New Brading keeper Joe McCormack made a hash of a back pass in the opening minute when he attempted to kick the ball clear, but luckily for him the ball spun wide. Just as it looked as if Hamworthy had everything under control the Islanders were awarded a corner from their first real attack in the match. The corner was hit high into the box where Scott Jones climbed unmarked to pick his spot, and head Brading in front after fourteen minutes. Top goal scorer Dave Greening was being kept very quiet by the United defence, but the goal scorer Scott Jones was proving to be a bit of a handful with his height and pace.  The Hammers pulled level after thirty seven minutes following some good inter-passing in midfield. Stuart Cannie collected the ball and beat two players before having a shot which the keeper appeared to have covered. Unfortunately for him the ball took a deflection off Sam Lockyer into the net to give Hamworthy a somewhat lucky, but deserved equaliser. There was no further addition to the score line before the break.
United now had the wind at their backs which meant that most of the play took place in the Town half of the pitch. Brading ,and Jones in particular still looked dangerous on the occasional quick break. Hamworthy had to be on their guard when following one such raid the ball was whipped dangerously across the face of the goal, but luckily for them avoided everybody including the Brading front men.
The Hammers took the lead from a free kick halfway through the second period.
The ball was floated into the centre from the far right where Steve Gilbert headed in at the far post to make it 2-1. With time running out it looked as if Warren Byerley had the goal at his mercy, but he under hit his shot, and somehow a Brading defender managed to get back and clear the ball off the line. The score remained unchanged at the final whistle to give United the narrow victory they probably deserved over the ninety minutes.
This was the Hammers sixth win out of seven games in January and took them up to sixth place. February looks a much tougher prospect starting with VT next Week.
Team:M. Peters, R. Jackson, S. Lockyer, O. Cherrett(Capt), G. Horlock, S. Gilbert, R. McCabe, M. Dancer, S. Cannie, W. Byerley, R. Dovell.
Unused Subs: G. Clark, J. Cole, S. Lanahan