HAMWORTHY UNITED 1 VERWOOD TOWN 2
Pre-Season Friendly (Saturday 01-08-09)
After playing so well in the pre-season Friendly matches against teams from the Southern League, the Hammers once again showed their Achilles heel by losing to Verwood Town from the Wessex Division one. United who lost to Hamworthy Recreation the previous Saturday, have a history over the years of doing well against the better teams, but losing to sides that you would expect them to beat. This however should take nothing from Verwood, or Ham. Rec. Both teams played exceptionally well, and thoroughly deserved their wins.
The Hammers started well in the opening few minutes playing some good passing football through the Town defence. With just five minutes gone Hamworthy were awarded a penalty following a somewhat desperate late challenge inside the box. The normally reliable Warren Byerley stepped up and missed his first penalty for over twelve months. Instead of burying the ball low in the corner as he usually does, he lifted it to a comfortable height for the Keeper to dive to his left, and push it away. This let off lifted Verwood, and seemed to demoralize the Home Team, who stopped playing the passing game and went for the longer ball option instead. The Town began to push forward with some good approach work, and Steve Shergold had to fling himself to his left to push a fierce goal bound shot round the post. The Town continued to give United plenty to think about, but with half time approaching it was the Hammers who had Verwood under pressure defending in their six yard box. However a quick break down the left in time added on saw a United defender fail to make his tackle. This allowed the Verwood man a free run into the penalty box. He unleashed a great finish into the corner of the net to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
HT 0-1
As expected both teams made changes after the break, and the Hammers came more into the game although play generally was fairly evenly spread.
It was one of the half time substitutes Mark Claremont who brought the scores level. Ollie Cherrett headed on a corner for the young striker in the six yard box to volley the ball home. Another moment of carelessness by Hamworthy cost them the game. Following another spell of United pressure another quick break out was not covered by a stretched Hamworthy defence. The Town man was given the time to draw the Keeper before slipping the ball past him, and into the empty net for a well deserved Verwood victory.
FT 1-2