HAMWORTHY UNITED 1 CHRISTCHURCH F.C. 1
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 20-03-10)
Once again the Hammer’s Saturday form was proved to be far better than that they have shown in their mid-week performances. They have won only two of their twelve mid-week games this season including Tuesday’s poor result against Arlesford, where they lost 3-0. United were also keen to avenge the 4-0 drumming they received at Hurn Bridge back in October on another Tuesday night that is much better forgotten. Simone Browne welcomed back Mike Antrobus, and Max Crow into the side, but lost the services of Stuart Cannie who was unavailable due to sickness.
Considering the amount of rain that had fallen in the previous twenty four hours the pitch looked, and played very well. The Hammers made the better start to the match of the two sides, and soon had Christchurch defending deep in their own half. It took only three minutes of the game for United to take the lead following a goalmouth scramble. The ball
was not cleared as it pinged around the six-yard box, but Max Crow eventually found a way past the helpless Stewart Kearn to open the scoring. Within a minute Max Frampton was called on to make a brilliant double save to keep his side in front. He blocked the first shot, and then dived full length to push away a second from the rebound. All this happened in a split second. Christchurch began to get on top, and the Hammers were asked to defend much more as the half progressed. United did well to hold onto their lead to half time with Max Frampton the busier of the two Keepers.
HT 1-0
Christchurch continued to have the edge of play at the start of the second period, and were eventually rewarded with the equalising goal on sixty five minutes. The goal was very similar to that scored by the Hammers. The ball was again not cleared, and resulted in another goal mouth scramble before a deflected shot took it past Max Frampton to even the score. The equaliser seemed to spur on Hamworthy more than their opponents, as the game swung back their way in the closing stages. It was now United who looked the more dangerous in attack, and the more likely of the two teams to go on and get the winner. They had two or three good opportunities to do this. The best of which fell to new signing Luke Burbidge who had up to that point been enjoying a good game. He was put through with just Keeper Stewart Kearns to beat, but unfortunately put his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. When the final whistle came a draw was probably a fair result over the ninety minutes. However it was probably Simon Browne of the two managers who felt that his team should have pinched it in the closing stages, and gone on to take all three points instead of the very creditable one gained
FT 1-1
Hamworthy United : Frampton, Antrobus, R. Jackson, Horlock, Llewellyn, Crow, Burbidge ,Barron, Swann (Khider), Dancer (Toghill), Merritt. Unused Subs : Browne, M. Jackson.