Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 23-01-2010)

Hamworthy overcame bottom placed Cowes, and avenged the 1-0 defeat that they suffered at the hands of the Yachtsmen at the County Ground in October. They also scored four goals for the third time in a week that has seen them collect nine points, and move up three places up the table.
Hamworthy began the game confidently with Jack Swann shooting just past the post following a solo run into the left hand side of the penalty box. The Cowes Keeper Chris Norris did well to get down, and deal with a fierce Max Crowe free kick from twenty five yards that had been driven in hard and low. The Hammers continued to look the more likely of the two teams to score, and did so twice in a minute. The first after twenty minutes was made by a clever through ball from Jamie Barron to find Jack Swann whose effort hit the post before he followed up to score at his second attempt. From their first attack following the restart United scored again. Lee Diaper’s pin point through ball played in Jamie Barron whose shot looked to be going in at the far post before Jack Swann made sure. Stuart Cannie had to limp off with a pulled muscle to be replaced by Manager Simon Browne. Steve Llewelyn hit the cross bar before the Hammers scored a third goal shortly before half time through Greg Horlock that virtually put the game beyond Cowes.
HT 0-3
Cowes came into the game a bit more in the second half, as United concentrated on consolidating their lead. They never really looked like scoring however as Hamworthy defended comfortably, and restricted their shots to long range. These either went well wide, or were collected with ease by Steve Shergold. The Hammers still looked much more the dangerous of the two sides with Lee Diaper making some good runs down the right. He was involved with United’s fourth goal when he exchanged passes with Jack Swann before shooting. Norris parried the shot out to Mark Dancer who kept his head to go round the keeper, and find the empty net. Jack Swann looked certain to get his hat-trick when he was again put through on goal, but this time scooped his shot over the bar. Simon Browne came off to allow Mark Seal to play out the final twenty minute of the game which Hamworthy did so comfortably.
Simon Browne must have been very pleased to see yet another good all round performance from his Team, that now look a lot more confident than when he first took over the reins,.
FT 0-4

Team: S. Shergold, M. Antrobus, R. Jackson, G. Horlock, S. Llewelyn (Capt), M. Crow, L. Diaper J. Barron, J. Swann S. M. Dancer, S. Cannie (S. Browne, M. Seal),. Sub not Used E. Roberts.

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Wednesday 20-01-2010)

Hamworthy carried over the good form shown in their last game against Brading Town to score another four goals. This time it was against a much improved Winchester City who have climbed the table steadily of late. This gave the Hammers the double over eighth placed City following their away 1-0 win in October, which lifted them off the bottom of the table.
Both Teams started the game at a good pace on a remarkably good pitch considering the recent rainfall. United struck first with a great goal that came out of nothing after just four minutes. A Max Crow thunderbolt from twenty yards moved considerably in the air before striking the underside of the bar, and going in. Both Teams appeared evenly matched with play moving very quickly from end to end, and with both sets of front runners causing problems to their opposing defences. Winchester went even further behind with another well taken goal this time by Jamie Barron, his first for the Club. He kept his head after Jack Swann put him through, to beat his marker, and slide the ball into the corner of the net. To their credit Winchester upped their game to score two goals in three minutes to level things up. They took full advantage of some poor defending by the home side to get back into the game. A Winchester man was allowed to run into the Hamworthy box without a challenge before he picked out Danny Cox. Steve Llewelyn slid in, in an attempt to block his shot, but the ball deflected fiercely off his boot, and past the stranded Steve Shergold. The Visitors second goal resulted from a straight forward cross that was not cut out, and this allowed the experienced Guy Butters to pick his spot and head home. Hamworthy did not this time as has happened in the past drop their heads, but retook the lead just on half time. Captain Steve Llewellyn was found at the far post from a corner and he headed the ball firmly home.
HT 3-2
Winchester never showed in the second half the fight and determination that they had shown in the first. It was now Hamworthy who always looked to have the slight edge on play as they took the game to the opposition. They did however still have to be aware of the City front men who still looked more than capable of scoring. Jack Swann in this game now looked more like his old self after missing several games. He was a constant thorn in the City’s side all game, and he was rewarded for his efforts with another well taken goal. He ran into the box after being put through, and pushed the ball past his marker. He then drew the Keeper off his line before coolly slotting the ball past him, and into the corner of the net. The Hammers played out the rest of the game to record a win that lifts them another place up the table nearer to safety with a good all round performance.
FT 4-2
United had only scored fifteen goals in twenty three matches up until Saturday, and they have now scored eight in two games by seven different players. Jack Swann was the only player to have scored twice in those last two games.

Team: S. Shergold, M. Antrobus, R. Jackson, G. Horlock, S. Llewelyn (Capt), M. Crow, L. Diaper (M. Seal), J. Barron, J. Swannm S. Cannie, J. Toghill.

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 16-01-2010)
A win was vital for both teams who sat perilously close to the relegation positions in the league before this game. Hamworthy for the first time for a long time had most of their squad available, but were still without Richard Jackson and James Merritt who were both suspended. The drainage system once again paid dividends following some heavy rain overnight, and the late morning.
Hamworthy started the stronger of the two teams and soon had Brading on the back foot. Joe Toggle had an early chance when he broke into the six yard box in the first minute, but was unable to find the net. The Hammers dominance paid dividends when they did take the lead from the corner with eleven minutes gone. The cross found Greg Horlock unmarked on the edge of the six yard box. He took full advantage of his freedom to drive the ball past Oliver Buckett and make it 1-0 to the Home side. Brading gradually got into the game, and play became a lot more even until just before half time, when Hamworhy scored twice in three minutes. As United broke out of defence, a good through ball picked out Jack Swann who cleverly turned, and beat his man. He then carried the ball a further twenty yards before drawing out the Keeper, and slipping it past him into an empty net. Jack Swann was again put through a minute later, but this time his effort hit the Town crossbar. Hamworthy’s second goal was superbly well taken; their third in the last minute of the half was as good, if not better. Stuart Cannie and Phil Diaper exchanged passes right through the middle of the Brading defence, before Diaper completed the move with a shot that gave Buckett no chance.
HT 3-0
Following a half time roasting from Steve Brougham the Islanders did their best to repair the damage done in the first half, but try as they may they did not really force Steve Shergold into having to make a difficult save. Their best chances came from set pieces, but a well organised United defence dealt comfortably with these. Just as in the first half the Hammers came back strongly in the last ten minutes of the game when they pressed hard for a fourth goal. They went close with a free kick awarded just outside the penalty box when many thought the offence had been committed inside. Hamworthy were not to be denied however when Stuart Cannie scored five minutes from time to complete a fine individual and Team performance. This still allowed enough time for United to go close on two further occasions before the final whistle.
FT 4-0
Team: S, Shergold, M. Antrobus, S. Browne, G. Horlock, S, Llewelyn (Capt), M. Crow, L. Diaper (K. Yelland), J. Barron, J. Swann (M. Dancer}, S. Cannie ( L. Mekchiche), J. Toghill.

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 02-01-10)

Following a very difficult December, the Hammers opened the New Year’s fixtures against another top five team, near neighbours Wimborne Town. To stand any real chance against these top sides United need to field a full strength side, but once again they were without several key players. These included Captain Steve Llewelyn, Stuart Cannie, Karl Yelland, and Carl Mutch. After a mid-day inspection the pitch was passed as being playable after a frosty night.
It took some time before both teams could get their game going with neither side testing the opposing keeper. Wimborne’s Scott Joyce were the first to bring out a shot that Steve Shergold did well to push over the bar with twenty minutes gone. Nick Hutchings had to leave the field after colliding with Greg Horlock following a goal mouth tussle from a free kick. He was taken to hospital, and replaced in goal by Alan Walker Harris. The Magpies should have taken the lead when Tom Clarke somehow missed the goal from close range with the goal at his mercy. Just as it looked as though the half would remain goalless the Town took the lead in time added on. United defenders failed to cut out a low cross from the left which Kevin James met at the far post, and hit home from close range.
HT 0-1
The second half continued much as the first half finished with Wimborne creating most of the chances. They did find the net on the hour, but the Assistant Referee had already raised his flag for offside before Joyce headed home. The visitors hit the crossbar with an overhead kick after Steve Shergold had parried the first shot away.As the half went on the Hammers gradually got back into the game, and began to press the Wimborne defence, which for the first time looked edgy. United’s chance of getting a point was not helped when Central Defender Ollie Cherrett retaliated by using his elbow on Michael Walker, and was rightly red carded. The Wimborne man however escaped any sort of punishment for his part in the mid-air tussle, which seemed a little harsh on Cherrett. Wimborne again came close to increasing the lead when they once again hit the crossbar from a quick break in the closing minutes.
FT 0-1

Team: S. Shergold, M. Antrobus (L. Mekchiche), R. Jackson, G. Horlock, O. Cherrett , J. Barron, J. Merritt, L. Diaper, J. Swann, J. Toghill, M.Crow.
Unused Subs: M. Dancer, E. Roberts, S. Browne