ROMSEY TOWN 2 HAMWORTHY UNITED 1
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Tuesday17-03-08)
Romsey Town did the double over the Hammers after the Visitors let slip a 1-0 lead twenty minutes into the second half, Romsey scored twice in two minutes including a debatable penalty to go on and win this closely fought game. Hamworthty were without Richard McCabe,Mark Kenway and Steve Gilbert, but Michael White returned to the side.
Play was fairly even for the first quarter with the Town looking dangerous on the break with their quick forwards, and the Hammers playing some good passing football. Ryan Dovell made a jinxing run into the box, but delayed a split second too long, and his shot was blocked. United were now getting more of the possession, and they took the lead after twenty three minutes. A well placed through ball picked out Warren Byerley running through the middle. He ran past one man shrugged off a second, drew the Keeper off his line, and coolly slotted the ball into the corner of the net. Hamworthy could well have had a second goal soon after. The Referee allowed play to go on after a Romsey player went down with a head injury. This caused some confusion in the Town defence as Byerley once again closed in on goal. He was clumsily brought down in the box, but play was allowed to continue. The ball broke to Karl Yelland with the goal at his mercy, but the midfielder hit it high over the bar. The score remained 1-0 at the interval a fair reflection of play to that point.
As to be expected Romsey came out determined to take the game to the Hammers in the second half. Just as it looked as if Hamworthy had weathered the spell of pressure Town equalized after sixty three minutes. A long ball down the middle found the United defence stretched, and struggling to regain position. The Romsey striker drew Martin Peters off his line and slid the ball past him to score just before Richard Jackson got to him. Within two minutes Romsey were in front this time from a controversial penalty when Ollie Cherrett was adjudged to have brought down his man. Many thought that Ollie had got to the ball first, and the Town man fell over his trailing leg. The Referee however clearly thought it a foul and, pointed to the spot. Both sides had chances to add to the scoring in the remaining minutes, but it was the Hammers who were on top in the closing stages.. Byerley shot just over from close range but Romsey held on to capture all three points and the double.
Team: M. Peters, R. Jackson, S. Lockyer, O. Cherrett (J. Crossin), G. Horlock, M. White, M. Crow, R. Dovell, K. Yelland, W. Byerley, M. Dancer
Unused SubsJ. Merritt, G. Clarke