Bridport Reserves 1 Hamworthy United Reserves 2
Dorset Premier League (Thursday 16-04-09)
This was an excellent away win by the Reserves giving them six crucial points in five days. Andy James once again did a splendid job in the dug out assisting Gary Clark (who played the first half), and filling in for the absent Richard Flowers who had work commitments. The Hammers were helped by the return of Mark Seal and Jim Crossin from first Team duties,and the inclusion of the experienced Aaron Turner up front making his first start for the Club. United also welcomed back Jordon Cole to the team who went on to have a very influential game. He started in midfield, and then played as Centre Half for the injured Mike Glavin.
The two Teams throughout the game were fairly evenly matched with both defences on top. and shielding their goal well. The nearest either Keeper came to being under any real pressure was when Luke Wines did well to deal with a ball that bounced awkwardly in front of him from a free kick, just as he was about to make the save. Aaron Turner just failed to convert a couple of headers, putting the ball narrowly wide. Mark Jamison who was doing so well at the heart of the defence was a little unlucky to be booked for pulling his man back as he attempted to get away. The same offence was later committed by a Bridport player with no caution given. The score remained at o-o at the half way stage.
Hamworthy started the second half much the brighter of the two teams, and almost took the lead. A quickly taken free kick by Jim Crossin had the Bridport Keeper scurrying across his box,only to see the ball go inches over the bar. United did take the lead in the 62nd minute through the pacey Mannie Clement who had come on for Gary Clark. He took the ball into the six yard box and forced an error from the keeper which allowed the ball to just trickle over the line. The lead only lasted five minutes when Bridport scored with a powerful shot that bent just inside the post. This was when the Hammers were down to ten men when Michael Glavin had to leave the pitch through injury. The Home Sides lead lasted even less time when Jordon Cole beat the offside trap and saw his shot once again misjudged by the Keeper and the ball allowed to creep over the line. He made up for his earlier mistakes when he did well to tip over another fierce, dipping Jim Crossin free kick from the edge of the area. Clement was unlucky not to have scored a second goal when his back heel was cleared off the goal line. Bridport tried hard for the equalizer in the remaining minutes, but Luke Wines and the United defence stood firm until the final whistle.
This win lifted the Reserves two places up the league with three games to play.
Team: L.Wines, S. Griffiths, S. Coakes, M. Glavin (J. Christipher), G, Williams, M. Jamison, J. Crossin, M. Seal, A. Turner, G. Clark (E. Clement)J. Cole. Unused Subs: K.Pooley, J. Keating