HAMWORTHY UNITED 1 VTFC 2
Sydenhams Wessex Leage Cup Final (Monday04-05-09)
Hamworthy almost snatched a last minute injury time equaliser after a fighting second half comeback. This was after they found themselves two goals behind at the break. VTFC were the hot favourites to win the Cup, as they had won both the two league meetings between the two Clubs quite comfortably. A win against Poole Town in the Semi-Final, and previous good runs in the FA Cup, and FA Vase proved that the Hammers were no pushovers, and so it was proved to be.
United started the game a little tentatively and soon came under pressure. Warren Hunt missed two good opportunities for VT to take the lead before Hamworthy gradually picked things up and got into the game. The Boatmen did however take the lead in the 35th minute following a some what controversial decision by the Referee to give them a free kick on the edge of the penalty box. There appeared to be no reason for this as there had been no appeals from either the VT players, or the crowd for a free kick to be given. The ball was lofted into the six yard box from the free kick where a session of head tennis was finished off by Paul Sale’s looping header into the top corner of the net to make it 1-0. Six minutes later the lead had been doubled before United had fully recovered from the first goal. A poor clearance only just cleared the penalty box before it was crossed back in for Kevin Gibbens to score from close range. Again many neutrals in the crowd thought that Ollie Cherrett had been fouled by Paul Sales in the play leading up to the goal. The Hammers lost the services of Stuart Cannie who had to limp off a minute before half time. Substitute Tom Jeffes was soon in the action when he clashed with a VT defender as he bravely went for the ball and was left with a blooded nose for his trouble.
Half Time 2-0
Hamworthy came out in the second half determined to make a game of it, and that they certainly did. Tom Jeffes and Max Crow combined well as they began to get at the Boatmen’s back line with their runs. The two almost brought the Hammers a goal when Jeffe’s dangerous low cross went just behind the onrushing Crow. With the goal at his mercy, and just two yards out, he was unable to hook the ball in as he tried to check his stride. The more the second half progressed the more United came into the game, and they went close again when Max Crowe weaved his way once more into the area before unleashing a shot that brought out the save of the match from Lee Webber. The Hamworthy Man of the Match and in many peoples opinion the Man of the Match got his reward with the Goal of the Match with thirteen minutes remaining. Following a good move down the right Tom Jeffes drew his man before passing the ball to Max Crowe running unmarked through the middle. This time he remained cool to slot the ball past the Keeper, and into the corner of the net to give Hamworthy some hope of saving the game. Hamworthy now piled forward looking for the eqaliser and almost got it in the final minute of play. A Warren Byerley cross found Ryan Dovell in the six yard box , but he was unable to cap an otherwise good performance with a goal. This time he unfortunately directed the ball wide when it looked easier to score.
Full Time 1-2
The whole of the Hamworthy United Team could hold their heads high after such a fighting display. This was never more apparent than when by far the biggest cheers went up for the losing side as they collected their medals after the game.
Team: S, Shergold, K. Yelland, R. Jackson, O. Cherrett(Capt), G. Horlock, S. Gilbert, S. Lockyer, S. Cannie (T. Jeffes), W. Byerley, R. Dovell. Unused Subs: M. Dancer, J. Merritt, M. Seal, T. Vavrecka.