BOURNEMOUTH POPPIES 1 HAMWORTHY UNITED 0
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Tuesday 08-09-09)
The Hammers can consider themselves very unlucky not to have got something out of this game. They hit the woodwork three times in the first half, and Poppies keeper Jason Harvell pulled off two more brilliant saves in the match. The ex-Poole Town Summer signing for the Poppies, was by far the busier Keeper on the night. He certainly earned his wages with a brilliant display that ensured his side a victory that they did not really deserve. Hamworthystarted the game quite brightly, with the imposing figure of Carl Mutch soon putting the Bournemouth defence under pressure. With two Poppies men in close attendance he nodded the ball down to Stuart Cannie who collected it just inside the penalty area. Cannie’s low shot across the stranded Jason Harvell hit the base of the post before rebounding to safety. Bournemouth missed a good opportunity at the other end when from a dangerous free kick, and despite being unmarked. The close range header was put wide. Stuart Cannie again hit the base of the post. This time it followed a jinxing run into the box that took him past three defenders, before shooting. Play was fairly even, but it was United who looked the more dangerous side in front of goal. Bournemouth only really looked like scoring from set pieces, where their delivery was far superior to that of the Hammers. Ex Poppy Ed Roberts playing his second game for United, and the whole Hamworthy defence were coping well however, and looked comfortable. United were awarded a free kick some thirty yards out that was quickly taken by Carl Mutch. His pile driver of a shot looked destined for the back of the net until Harvell pulled off the first of two great save in the match, and push the ball up onto the bar, and over. Play continued to flow from end to end and a goalless first half looked certain. That is until an unforced error in time added on led to the only goal of the game, and was to cost the Hammers the match. A long speculative ball out of the Bournemouth defence looked to be well covered by Steve Llewellyn, but his header back to his Keeper fell well short. This left Dan Cann in on goal and he made no mistake to give his side an unexpected half time lead. The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with play fairly evenly divided. The Poppies continued to look only really dangerous from set pieces, and the Hammers looked the more likely of the two teams to score from open play. They almost did this when Max Crowe collected a half clearance on the edge of the box. His first time strike brought out an even better save by Harvell than the one in the first half to keep his side in the lead. Bournemouth had a good opportunity to increase their lead ten minutes from the end as United pressed forward. Substitute Rico Wilson was through one on one with Ed Roberts, but delayed his shot too long and was caught in possession. The same player was lucky not to have got a second yellow card when his late challenge went unpunished by the Referee in the closing minutes of the match. It was a very relieved Bournemouth Poppies team that left the field still on top of the League.
Team: E.Roberts, K. Yelland, O Cherrett, G. Horlock, S. Llewellyn, M. Crow, R. Dovell, J. Merritt (M. Claremont),S. Cannie, K. Mutch, R. Jackson. Unused Subs: A. Tong,, M. Dancer, M. Jackson.