HAMWORTHY UNITED 0 WIMBORNE TOWN 1
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