HAMWORTHY UNITED 3 ALRESFORD TOWN 2
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League ( Saturday 14-03-09)
This was the third meeting between the two Clubs in a short space of time. Both the previous encounters were close run things with the Hammers winning the Cup game 1-0, and the League match finished 1-1. Both the games were played at Alresford. It came as no surprise then that this match was to end in the same way, although United should have had the game won by half time.
Hamworthy began the game well with a strong wind blowing in their backs, and soon had Alresford in trouble. A hasty bouncing back pass had Keeper Dan Chapman in trouble. He did well to chest the ball down under pressure before clearing it to safety. The opening few minutes was dominated by the Hammers who went close on several occasions, but they were unable to finish off their good approach work with a goal. In fact it was Alresford who were to take the lead much against the run of play in the 16th minute from their first real attack. A long clearance found the United defence pushed up, and square. The Town striker took the ball on before drawing Martin Peters off his line. He then cleverly lobbed the ball over him, and dipped it just under the bar from fully twenty five yards out. Within a minute of taking the lead Alresford could have doubled it when they were again through one on one, but this time delayed their shot too long, and the chance was lost. Hamworthy were not behind for long however, and equalized through Max Crow after twenty two minutes. Warren Byerley flicked on a header to Karl Yelland who picked out Crow to score in the corner from six yards out. The Hammers took the lead soon after following the first of two goalkeeping errors in the game. Chapman must have taken his eye off the ball when attempting a straight forward take, and dropped the ball for Warren Byerley to score. The Hammers further increased their advantage when from a corner a Greg Horlock’s header was pushed out by the Keeper. The ball fell to Ollie Cherrett who lashed it back past Chapman to make it 3-1 at the break.
With the wind now in their favor Alresford came much more into the game, and for the first time had United on the back foot, and defending deep in their own half. Despite this, United looked quite capable of defending their lead. That is until Martin Peters made the second goalkeeping error of the afternoon. He looked to have had a low long shot well covered, but the ball squirmed through his legs and over the line to make it 3-2. Hamworthy now looked a lot less confident especially when the Town struck the bar, and could well have had to settle for a draw in time added on. Martin Peters more than made up for his earlier faux pas when he dived bravely to smother a close range shot right on the goal line to ensure his side the victory.
Team: M. Peters, K. Yelland, R. Jackson, O. Cherrett, G. Horlock, M. Kenway, S. Lockyer, M. Crow, M. Dancer (R. McCabe), W. Byerley, R. Dovell (J. Crossin)
Unused Sub: M. White