Alresford Town 3 Hamworthy United 0
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Tuesday 16-03-10)
Hamworthy were down to the barebones for this game. Mike Antrobus,, Max Crow, Mark Dancer and Mark Jackson were all not available from Saturday’s squad. Together with the injured players this meant Manager Simon Browne had to start the game at left back, and had only two players on the bench. Unfortunately it was the same old story so often witnessed this season, when there appeared to be a lack of effort on some players’ parts when trying to get a result from a mid-week game. Alresford are certainly no better than the Hammers, but what they did show was a willingness to give 100% and chase down every ball at every opportunity, and really get at United. Alresford’s sloping pitch is always difficult for visiting teams, and the Home Team are very good at hitting long balls out of defence, and catching the opposition on the break . Hamworthy also appeared to have great trouble in judging the uneven bounce of the ball, and keeping it on the deck.
Once again Hamworthy started the game strongly kicking down the slope, and dominated the play for the first ten minutes of the match. Jamie Barron’s pinpoint cross from the left was powerfully headed just past the post by the unmarked Greg Horlock. Soon after this a half hit clearance dropped to Joe Toghill on the edge of the box. His looping shot appeared to be going over the Town Keeper Dan Chapman, and into the net, but somehow he managed to lean back, and push the ball onto the bar and over. As the half progressed Alresford came more and more into it. The Hammers neglected their passing game, and got dragged into the long ball routine favoured by their opponents. Neither side now looked like opening the scoring before the half time break, and so it proved.
HT 0-0
The second half continued much as the first, with neither side looking as if they could win the game. Joe Toggle did manage to hit the crossbar in a six yard box scramble that followed a corner, but this was as near to scoring as the Hammers were going to get. The Town did score in the sixty fifth minute, and with it enjoyed a large slice of luck. They were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area which was taken by Matt Dawson. His shot took a wicked deflection off the wall, and sent the unfortunate Max Frampton completely the wrong way. The ball finished up in the opposite corner of the net to his dive. A few Hamworthy heads appeared to go down after that, and some did not appear to have the will to try and get back into the game. The goal had the opposite effect on the Alresford players who now lifted their game, and chased down everything. They harassed United into making too many unforced errors, and they were rewarded for their trouble by scoring two further goals to add to the Hammers misery. These were both scored by Matt Dawson to complete his hat-trick, and earn his team in the end a well deserved win.
FT 3-0
Of the twelve mid-week league games the Hammers have played this season they have lost eight and only won two, with two drawn. Room for improvement I believe
Hamworthy United : Frampton, Merritt, Horlock, Llewellyn, Browne, R. Jackson, Burbidge (Khider), Barron, Swann ,Cannie (Facer), Toghill. Unused Subs :