HAMWORTHY UNITED 3 ALTON TOWN 2
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 06-02-2010)
Following three successive wins the Hammers were keen to keep the run going, but Alton were certainly not going down without a fight. The Visitors were on top for most of the first half, and also in the early parts of the second. They must have gone home very disappointed not to have at least have got a point out of the game. Hamworthy welcomed back the large presence of Max Frampton in goal following his move back to the County Ground from Brockenhurst. He was to play a major part in their victory with a couple of top drawer saves at key moments during the game.
The game took a little while to get going as both sides struggled to get their games together, and play was a bit scrappy for the first quarter. It was the Visitors who gradually got on top, and began to put pressure on the United defence. The Hamworthy back four were at times at full stretch to contain the nippy Town front runners. Luckily for them the Alton finishing was not as good as their approach work, and Max Frampton was able to deal with most things that got through, and on target. He did however have one let off when with the goal at his mercy an Alton striker hit the ball straight at the United Keeper’s midriff from close range. United finished the half somewhat disappointingly without creating one clear cut chance in the first forty five minutes, and unable to produce the attacking football of their last few games.
HT 0-0
The second half saw the Town once again take the game to Hamworthy and Max Frampton was twice called into action to make two good stoppages in quick succession to keep his side in the game. The Hammers gradually got into the game and at long last began to find their men, and for the first time put the opposition under pressure with a series of corners. These were cleverly taken by Stuart Cannie, and from one of these the ball was only half cleared to the edge of the penalty box. Jamie Barron was on hand to pick it up, and drive it through a ruck of players low into the net, giving Dan Hill no chance to save. A second goal for United soon followed in a similar fashion to the first, this time scored by Steve Llewelyn. From the corner, and following a foul, the Referee allowed the advantage. As the ball pinged around the Alton penalty box Llewelyn hit it past Hill to double the lead. Alton were far from finished, and following a quick break out found Hamworthy stretched at the back. As he closed in on goal an Alton man was adjudged to have been pulled back, and a penalty awarded. Max Frampton dived to his left, but was unable to get to the ball and prevent the goal. The Hammers were reduced to ten men when Richard Jackson received a second yellow for two innocuous looking fouls. Any chance that the Town might get something out of the game was soon lost when United restored their goal advantage. Dan Hill did well to save a close range header from the unmarked Jack Swann, but the ball fell at the Keepers feet. Before he could clear the Hamworthy striker had followed up to knock it over the line, and ensure the win.
FT 3-1
Team: M. Frampton, M. Antrobus, R. Jackson, G. Horlock, S. Llewelyn (Capt), M. Crow, L. Diaper J. Barron, J. Swann S. M. Dancer, S. Cannie (S. Browne),. Subs not used: S. Shergold, M. Seal