Pre-Season Friendly Tuesday 28-07-09
VT newly promoted from the Wessex League into the Southern League South & West brought a full strength squad with them to the County Ground. The only notable exception was star striker Paul Sales who is still recovering from an injury that may keep him sidelined for some time.
The Hammers were much the busier of the two teams in the first quarter of the game, and VT were kept in their own half for most of that time. The first real goal scoring opportunity fell to Ryan Dovell after fourteen minutes, but following a good move and cross his goal bound header was comfortably saved by Lee Webber. The Southern League side upped their game as the half progressed, and had a few good chances of their own. Their best effort rebounded off the post with United keeper Steve Shergold routed to the spot. The interval arrived with neither side being able to get on the goal sheet following a fairly evenly contested, and entertaining first forty five minutes.
HT 0-0
Following changes to both sides the start of the second half was a complete reversal to that of the first. This time it was VT who were quickest off the mark, and it was United who were now penned back deep in their own half. Under such pressure it was only a matter of time before a goal came. Warren Hunt who had been closely marked by Greg Horlock all game at last slipped his man and sent a clever chip over Steve Shergold to make it 1-0 toVT. The Visitors scored a second goal soon afterwards with a well struck low shot into the corner of the net that gave Shergold no. To their credit the Hammers did not give up and once again came back into the game. Another header from Ryan Dovell went close, but was once again well covered by the VT Keeper. The game finished with no further goals being scored, and with both Managers fairly pleased with their Team’s performances. The main difference once again between the two sides was the clinical finishing that the VT strikers are able to offer.

Pre-Season Friendly (Saturday25-07-09)
If United had any preconceived ideas of grandeur following their recent successes over Southern league teams Gosport and Andover, they were soon brought back to reality. They were beaten in this game by a very good Hamworthy Recreation side from the Dorset Premier. Only a much better second half performance saved United from even bigger blushes.
Ham Rec soon had the Home Team on the back foot with some good fast flowing football, and took an early lead with a well taken Mike Notley goal. The same player took full advantage of some hesitancy in the United defence to add a second. As the ball dropped just outside the six yard box the two Central Defenders, and the Keeper remained rooted to the spot. This allowed Notley (who two years ago played a few games for United) time to run in and score. With still over half of the period still to go the Rec continued to dominate play, and another ex –United player Jamie Moores made it 3-0 with a fine looping header into the top corner of the net. Hamworthy United at last began to get their act together at the back, but still lacked penetration up front, and never brought a worthwhile save from the Rec. Keeper in the first half
H.T 0-3
As expected both teams made changes at half time, and for the first time in the game United began to exert some pressure on the Visitor’s defence. Goalkeeper Leonard made a couple of fine saves before half time substitute Kieth Middleton headed home the first of his three goals from close range. Ham United were now having more of the play, but were set back on their heels when they failed to deal with a quick break, and the Rec again restored their three goal advantage. Kieth Middleton scored his second with a well taken headed goal. This followed a good run, and cross by another half time substitute Mark Seal. The same player completed his hat-trick with yet another headed goal to give the final score line a much more respectable look.
Hamworthy United can point to the fact that they had several First Team squad players missing, but this must not detract from a very much deserved and creditable Hamworthy Recreation win, or their own short comings.

Pre-Season Friendly ( Tuesday 21-07-09 )
The Hammers faced a team of trialists, many having just been released from a full time professional club, and looking for a contract in non league football. They were all hoping to catch the eye of the Dorchester Manager, and they proved a very stiff test for the Hamworthy team. Dorchester Town play their football in the Blue Square South Premier League some three divisions above the Wessex league team so the 3-0 final score was no more than to be expected.
Dorchester got into the game right from the kick off surprising the Home Team with their pace, and accuracy of passing. It took only a minute for them to take the lead when Adam Tong palmed away a fierce goal bound shot. Unfortunately the clearance hit James Merrit, and rebounded into the net for an own goal. Before United could recover they found themselves two goals behind with less than five minutes gone. The Magpies took full advantage of Hamworthy’s failure to clear their lines, and once again found the corner of the net. As the half progressed the Hammers got a little more into the game, but most of the danger still came from the Blue Square team. Just as it looked as if United would hold out until the break without conceding another goal, they did just that in the dying seconds of the half to make it 3-0.
HT 3-0
Both Teams made changes after the interval, and Hamworthy came a lot more into the game after that, giving the Dorchester Defence a lot more to think about. Mark Seal twice went close to getting a goal back for United. He was desperately unlucky when he broke into the penalty box, and unleashed a fierce shot that hit the underside of the bar before dropping down on the line, and rebounding to safety. Greg Horlock playing his first game since returning from holiday also went close to giving the Hammers the goal they deserved. He was unlucky with a header from a set piece. Try as they might United could not get on tothe score sheet before the Referee blew for time.
Over the ninety minutes there was no doubt that the best team won, but Hamworthy United were certainly not disgraced and a 3-1 score line would probably have been a fairer reflection of the game.
FT 3-0

Pre-Season Friendly (Friday 17-09-09)
A team consisting mainly of new young players to Hamworthy United travelled to Swanage to give a very creditable performance against a much more experienced side. The Hammers ensured a deserved victory following an own goal after some confusion in the Swan’s penalty box. The victory was marred a little by the injury to Mark Jackson following a heavy tackle that left him needing crutches.

Pre-Season Friendly (Saturday 18-07-09)

For the second time in a week the Hammers faced stiff opposition from a team from Division One of the Southern League South & West. This time in the shape of Gasport Borough, managed by Alex Pike the man who took Hamworthy up into the Wessex League following their promotion from the Dorset Premier League at the start of the 2004/5 season. United were without one or two of their last year regulars due to holidays etc. These included Club Captain Ollie Cherrett, and last season’s Player of the Year Max Crow, but saw the return of others including Karl Yelland and Richard McCabe who both missed the Andover game. New signing Adam Tong played a full game in goal replacing the injured Steve Shergold, and did his chances of pushing for a first team place no harm whatsoever.
Both sides started the game well playing some good passing football. Gosport probably had just having the edge in the opening exchanges. Following a series of corners that were defended well, the Hammers gradually began to take the play deeper into Borough territory. Hamworthy opened up the scoring in the eighteenth minute when they were gifted a penalty. Warren Byerley with his back to goal was needlessly bundled to the ground. He picked himself up, and converted from the spot with a low shot into the corner of the net. Play remained fairly even for the remainder of the half with both defences on top, the mid field was evenly matched, and goal chances were few and far between.
HT 1-0
Both sides as expected made changes after the break. It took Gosport less than two minutes of the second half to draw level. The Sothern League side took full advantage of a rare United defensive error to go on and score passed the helpless Adam Tong, who was given no chance. Borough gradually got on top, and now looked more dangerous than at any point of the game. All this was to come to nothing however when they fell behind to a somewhat bizarre goal. The Gosport Keeper who had just replaced Nick Hutchings remained injured on the ground after the ball was half cleared. Play continued, and Ryan Dovell ran through, and found the corner of an unguarded net to give the Hammers the lead after sixty three minutes. Hutchings returned to the field, but Gosport were never given the opportunity to salvage anything from the game by a good all round display by the Home team.

Pre Season Friendly Sat 11-07-09

Hamworthy United dominated most of this game against their opponents from Division One of the Southern League South & West, and probably should have won by at least another couple of goals.
Both teams had large squads which meant both managers were able to ring the changes in the second half.
The first thirty minutes of the game was all Hamworthy with Andover scarcely getting over the half way line during that period. It was only a matter of time before the Hammers scored, and this they did after twelve minutes following some good play down the left. Mark Claremont who was proving to be a constant threat to Andover out wide finished the move off with a superb cross that picked out Max Crow to make it 1-0. United had several opportunities to increase their lead including a couple of free headers that last year’s top goal score Warren Beaty could only put wide. Former Hamworthy Youth player Tom Willis put in a useful performance in mid field following his return to the County Ground from Ham Rec. Steve LLewelyn formed a solid partnership with Ollie Cherrett at the heart of the Hamworthy defence, and was ably assisted by Richard Jackson and James Merritt to make the Andover attack almost non existent in the first half.
Half time HUFC 1 Andover FC 0
The second half saw both sides make several changes, and although Andover came more into the game they never really looked like scoring. The Hammers more than held their own as several more new faces were given the chance to make their mark. Proof of Hamworthy,s dominance was the fact that United Keeper Steve Shergold never had to make a difficult save in the whole game. Phil Simkin must have been the happier of the two managers especially with several of last year’s regulars unable to play in this game for one reason or another.
Final Score HUFC 1 Andover FC 0