HAMWORTHY UNITED 0 GILLINGHAM TOWN 1
Dorset Senior Cup Semi Final (02-03-10)
After dominating the first twenty minutes of the game Hamworthy can have few complaints about losing this Semi-Final to their Western League opponents. It is true that due to injuries, suspensions and ineligibility that this was far from the Hammer’s strongest side, but the line up should still have been strong enough to have won this tie. Simon Browne also had to use Ollie Cherrett in mid-field rather than his usual central defender position. The pitch was far from ideal for playing the ball on the deck dueto it being very sticky on top, and churned up very easily as the game progressed.
The Hammers opened very strongly, and looked for the first twenty minutes to be much the better side. They should have taken the lead in less than two minutes when Lee Diaper out on the right wing sent a dangerous cross into the six yard box. This was met by Jack Swann who somehow managed to put the ball wide from just a yard out, and with the goal at his mercy. Hamworthy continued to dominate going close on another couple of occasions, but they were set back on their heels when Gillingham took the lead from a rare break out of defence. A speculative shot from some twenty five yards out found Max Frampton standing off his line. He apparently misjudged the flight of the ball, and he could only stay rooted to the spot as the ball went over his head, and into the roof of the net. The Town took great heart from this, and changed the pattern of the game completely, now taking the game to the Hammers. Mike Antrobus had to make a last ditch clearance off the line, and two other fierce shots went dangerously close, as United struggled to get their game going again. Their must have been some relieved players when only one yellow card for each side was shown by the Referee as players from each side got involved in a scuffle. This was prompted by a clumsy tackle from Stuart Cannie. He was then pushed to the ground with two hands by a Gillingham player who retaliated .Half time could not come quick enough for Hamworthy who were now a shadow of the team that started the game.
HT 0-1
Although the second half was perhaps a little more even, the football did not improve with a little of note being created. Hamworthy came the closest to scoring with a Stuart Cannie free kick from just outside the penalty box. The ball smashed against the cross bar with the keeper beaten, but when it dropped a Hamworthy player he could only knock it straight into the Keeper arm’s. Apart from that instance both Keepers never really had a lot to do before the final whistle. The game ended in a win for Gillingham, and a very frustrating evening for the Hammers and their travelling supporters who have been used to much better performances than this of late.
Team : Frampton, Antrobus, M.Jackson, Horlock, Llewellyn, Cherrett, Diaper, Barron, Swann, Dancer (Facer), Cannie. Unused subs. Robers, Browne Seal