HORNDEAN 2 HAMWORTHY UNITED 3
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