Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday24-04-10)

The last game summed up Hamworthy United’s season in ninety minutes. This was a game when for a lot of the match Hamworthy were on top especially in the first half, but lost the game through missed opportunities, lack of concentration at vital times, and bad luck. I think for the first time this season The Hammers were able to field an unchanged starting line up, and even welcomed back Karl Yelland following a long spell off with injury.
Hamworthy started the game brightly enough kicking up hill on a well grassed, but hard bumpy pitch. Alton were doing most of the defending, but looked dangerous on the break. Luke Burbidge was desperately unlucky when he got on the end of a perfect Larbi Mekchiche cross. He directed his header downward in text book fashion only to see the Keeper somehow save it with his feet. Alton broke almost immediately down the wide right where their man jinxed around a couple of United defenders, and crossed the ball into the six yard box. Simba Miambo ran between two defenders to score from close range with seventeen minutes gone. Despite continuing to have most of the play and more chances, Hamworthy fell further behind in a similar fashion to the first goal. Hamworthy were awarded a free kick deep into the Alton half , but Max Crow’s poor free kick was hit straight at the first defender stood some fifteen yards away. He hit a long ball out to the right, and the same player that had lain on the first goal, this time pulled the ball back to the penalty spot. The United Defence were found defending on the six yard line. and this gave the Town Striker the time to beat Max Frampton for the second time, and make it 2-0. It took the Hammers just three minutes to reduce the arrears from a free kick twenty five yards out. Stuart Cannie stepped up and sent a curling shot into the top right hand corner that gave Dan Hill the Town keeper no chance. Hamworthy dominated the rest of the half, and went close on several occasions, but the deserved equaliser evaded them, and the score remained the same at the break.
H.T. 2-1
Hamworthy were kept on the back foot for the first part of the second half, and took a while to get back into the game. Luke Burbidge,s luck was again not with him when following a good move his shot hit the foot of the post with the Alton Keeper a spectator. Substitute Darren Facer was put through one on one with the keeper only to see the Alton man finishing up sitting on the ball, when it looked to have gone under him. Alton too had there chances in the second half, but the United Defence looked a lot more comfortable defending down the hill. Most of the Town shots were from long range which Max Frampton comfortably dealt with.
FT 2-1
Hamworthy’s season finished as it had started losing 2-1 away from home. This was in a game that they should not really have lost, and would not have done so had they taken their chances.

Team; Frampton, Antrobus, R. Jackson, Horlock, Llewelyn (Capt), Merritt (Facer), Mekchiche (Magewick), Crow, Swann, Burbidge, Cannie (Browne). Unused Sub: Yelland

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Wednesday21-04-10)
Hamworthy at long last got back to winning ways, and for the first time in six games managed to hold on to their lead. The Hammers were determined to make amends not only for their recent slip ups, but also to avenge the fact that they were leading 2-0 when the Referee controversially called a halt to the original fixture. Simon Brown took the opportunity to give a couple of the Reserve players some Wessex League experience from the bench. Both Lee Madgewick and Aaron Stacey gave creditable performances after coming on in the second half and did their future chances at this level no harm at all.
This was a better all round performance by the Hammers who took the upper hand right from the kick off. The Islanders were restricted very much to the odd break spending most of the time defending in their own half. To their credit they defended well in numbers for most of the first half. Despite their superiority Hamworthy were finding it difficult to create many clear cut chances. They did however manage the breakthrough five minutes before the break. Larbi Mekchiche beat two players out on the far right and sent over a great shot that hit the far post before going into the net to give the Home side the lead.
HT1-0
If the Hammers were on top in the first half they were even more so in the second, now playing some good entertaining football. The very excellent Hayling Keeper did well to stop goal attempts from Jack Swann, Luke Burbidge and Max Crow as Hamworthy looked to add to their score line. In the fifty-fourth minute he did well to push away a Max Crow shot, but unfortunately for him it fell to Jack Swann who this time made sure that he found the net. It was now all Hamworthy with Larbi Mekchiche and Luke Burbidge looking particularly dangerous. These two combined to get the Hammers third when Mekchiche put Luke Burbidge through on goal. He slipped the ball past the helpless Keeper as he came off his line to sew up the game. The final winning margin would have been at least double had it not been for the continued heroics of the Hayling United custodian. He made one unbelievable save from Greg Horlock when he somehow managed to push over a powerful header that looked destined for the top corner. Simon Browne gradually introduced the Substitutes, but this did not change the Hammers superiority in any way. Max Frampton who had a relatively quiet evening was called upon to make a first class save late in the game from a rare break by the Islanders. The game concluded with a well deserved Hamworthy win at long last.
FT 3-0
Team; Frampton, Antrobus (Madgewick), R. Jackson, Horlock, Llewelyn (Capt), Merritt, Mekchiche, Crow (Dancer), Swann (Stacey), Burbidge, Cannie. Unused Subs: Facer, Khider

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 17-04-10)
Hamworthy United appear to have lost the ability to hold on to a lead. The Hammers have taken the lead five times in the last six games, and have ended up winning none of them. A fact that must have left Manager Simon Brown tearing his hair out, especially after this game when his team had twice taken the lead only to lose it again. If the games this season had only lasted 45 minutes instead of ninety then United would now be a top six side. Simon was able to bring Stuart Cannie back into the side and Larbi Mekchiche who was back from injury started on the bench.
Play was fairly evenly matched, but the Hammers gradually edged in front on the goal chances. Max Crow in particular had two early strikes. The first was well hit, but unfortunately went straight at the Moneyfield Keeper. The second from twenty five yards struck the angle of the bar and upright. The visitors looked lively up front, but the Hamworthy defence restricted their attempts on goal. Hamworthy took the lead after twenty minutes from a well taken corner by Stuart Cannie. His cross picked out Greg Horlock at the far post and he made no mistake with his header to give his side the lead. Soon afterwards the same player appeared to be pushed in the back in the Moneyfields penalty area, but the Referee waved play on rejecting all appeals. This was the first of two very controversial penalty decisions that went against the Home side. Play remained fairly even up until the break, with no further addition to the scoring.
HT 1-0
In their first attack following the break Moneyfields went close to levelling the game when they hit the crossbar. Stuart Cannie returned the compliment at the other end, by hitting the Visitors Bar. The Portsmouth side did take full advantage of some Hamworthy slack play to score a few minutes later. Whilst some of the United players were still debating the decision, the ball was quickly laid off from the free kick. The player took a few strides and then hit a great dipping shot over Max Frampton, and into the net from some thirty yards out. The Hammers soon regained the lead however following some good interplay between Luke Burridge and Max Crow in the opposing penalty area. Crow finished off the move by calmly passing the ball past Cameron Scott and into the empty net. Luke Burbidge appeared to most people watching to have been bundled over in the box as he once again attacked the area, but for the second time in the game Referee Mr Byfield waved away all protests. Instead of being 3-1 up United soon found themselves back on level terms when Max Frampton failed to make a good contact on a cross from the far right. He only managed to push the ball straight to an opposing player who thumped it back straight past him to make it 2-2. Moneyfields were now on a high, and a first time long clearance up the right wing led to the winner ten minutes from time. The ball was taken down and hit over Max Frampton to the far post where it found room just inside the upright for Moneyfields second great strike of the afternoon. United exerted pressure in the last few minutes, but were unable to recover from the earlier setbacks.
FT 2-3
Team; Frampton, Antrobus, R. Jackson, Horlock, Llewelyn (Capt), Merritt, Diaper (Mekchiche), Crow, Dancer, Burbidge, Cannie. Unused Subs: Browne, Swann

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League ( Monday 12-04-10)

The early 4.00pm start to this away trip to the Isle of Wight meant that some players were not available through work commitments. This made team changes inevitable. Max Crowe was available, but Jack Swan, Stuart Cannie and Chia Khider (who withdrew late) were not. This gave Lee Madgewick who has been playing well for the Reserves a chance to make the step up, and start his first game for the senior squad. He took the opportunity well, and impressed with a very steady performance in midfield.
Hamworthy began the match kicking up the considerable slope, and had a strong wind in their backs. They started the game stronger than their Island opponents, and restricted Brading to only having the odd break. The Hamworthy defence dealt with these quite comfortably. United were enjoying more of the ball, but could not finish off their good approach work with a telling shot on goal. The Brading Keeper was eventually beaten, but for the second game running the Hamworthy scorer was an O G. This followed some good work up the left wing by Richard Jackson who got to the byline before putting a dangerous cross into the six yard box. The Town defender under pressure mistimed his header. This saw the ball glance off the top of his head, and curl just inside the far post. The helpless Keeper was given no chance to save, and keep his side from going behind. Despite further chances the Hammers could not capitalize, and went in at half time with a slim, but well deserved lead
HT 0-1
The second half saw a roll reversal, and it was Brading who were soon to get on top. They forced Hamworthy into defending deep in their own half for the first time in the match. Max Frampton was called upon two make two or three really good saves as the sustained pressure continued, but he was eventually beaten ten minutes into the second period. As the second half continued the match once again became more even. The Home Team perhaps still had the slight edge, but play went from end to end, as both sides went in search of a winner. The Town were awarded a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions both on the edge of the penalty box. These were wasted however much to Max Frampton’s relief when they were blasted high and wide over the bar. The scores remained level at the final whistle. This was a result that most people agreed with and it was a fair one, with both teams taking a point. United shaded the first half, and Brading had the slight edge in the second, and this made it a close, but enjoyable game to watch.

Team : Frampton, Antrobus, R. Jackson, Horlock, Llewelyn (Capt), Crow, Madgewick, Merrit, Burbidge, Dancer(Facer), Diaper. Unused Sub: Browne

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Saturday 10-04-10)

This match saw the return of Captain Steve Llewelyn and Lee Diaper for the Hammers, but they were still unable to field a full strength team. Jamie Barron has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his jaw in a fall. Stuart Cannie was suspended and Max Crow and Joe Toghill were unavailable for selection.
This turned out to be a real end of the season game. There was nothing much in it for either side, and both teams appeared to play without much sense of urgency. On a beautiful warm afternoon on a pitch that had been baked hard by the sun, it was not easy to get a true run of the ball on the ground, making play on the deck difficult. Hamworthy started the brighter of the two teams, and Gary Streeter the Newport Keeper was soon called into action turning a dangerous cross from United’s right wing over the bar. The Islanders gradually picked up the pace which made the game now much more evenly balanced. Despite this both Keepers were still never put under any real pressure, and you could not see where a goal was going to come from at that stage. Shortly before half time the Hammers did take the lead however from an unexpected source following a quick break up the right. Lee Diaper sent in an accurate cross which found Harry Ovnick running back towards his own goal, and under pressure from Mark Dancer. The Port Central defender in trying to clear the ball only succeeded in driving it into his own net past the helpless Streeter. This gave Hamworthy a somewhat fortuitous lead at the brake.
HT 1-0
Newport started the better of the two teams after the break, and it did not take them long to get back on level terms. Charle Smeeton did not appear to get much on his shot, but with the help of a timely bounce over the diving Max Frampton’s outstretched arm, the ball found it’s way into the corner of the net. Newport were now on top and shortly after took the lead, helped by some poor defending by United. A long ball put Charlie Smeeton through with just the Keeper to beat, and he did well to slip the ball past the advancing Max Frampton to make it 2-1 to the Visitors. The last ten minutes of the game was all Hamworthy who forced a succession of corners as they went for the equalizer. For all their pressure they were unable to get the ball past Streeter, who injured his back in the last couple of minutes of the game. He did however manage to stay on the pitch to the end and ensure his side’s win
FT 1-2
Team : Frampton, Antrobus, R. Jackson, Horlock, Llewelyn (Capt), Diaper, Merrit, Burbidge, Khider (Facer), Dancer (Swann), M. Jackson(Madgewick)

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League (Monday 05-04-10)
Simon Browne went into this match without the services of his Captain, and central defender Steve Llewelyn who was unavailable due to school teaching duties. Ollie Cherritt was still injured, and so James Merrit had to step in and play out of position. This left the Hammers short on height when it came to set pieces, especially against the likes of Michael Walker and Lamin Dibba. A point proved with Poole’s equalizing goal.
Neither side really got on top in the early exchanges with both sides cancelling one another out. Hamworthy did get the ball into the back of the net, but Joe Toghill’s celebrations were short lived. The Referee adjudged that he had fouled Nic Jones the Dolphin Keeper before he headed the ball home. Hamworthy took the lead in the 35th minute when after combining well with Max Crow, new signing Luke Burbidge slotted the ball past Jones to score his second goal since joining the Hammers. Just as it looked as if United would go into the break with a lead, Poole struck back. A corner to the far post was not cut out, and it appeared to be drifting out of play before Lamin Dibba stood on the bye-line jumped, and headed the ball back, and down across the goal. This was met by Stuart Brown who made no mistake from close range.
HT 1-1
Within minutes of the start United should have regained the lead, but failed to score when Jamie Barron was put clear with just the keeper to beat. This near miss urged the Dolphins into raising their game, and they gradually got on top. Hamworthy’s cause was not helped when Poole were given a somewhat dubious penalty. Steve Smith appeared to fall over the grounded Greg Horlock who himself appeared to have been fouled in the build up. Justice was done when Max Frampton dived full length to save Mickey Hubbard’s spot kick. It did not take the ex-Hammer long to make amends however. He latched onto a poor clearance, and drove the ball low into the right hand corner of the net with sixty-six minutes gone. United were now coming under even more pressure as the League leaders went all out to increase their lead. This was achieved six minutes later when Max Frampton could only palm away a free kick into the box, and the ball dropped to the waiting Carl Preston. He lobbed the ball over Frampton as he tried to retreat, and into the empty net. To their credit the Hammers did not give up and were unlucky not to have got back into the game, and reduce the lead. Max Crow was unable to get a good connection on his shot which hit the foot of the post before rolling along the goal line and then being cleared.
FT 1-3
There was no doubt over the ninety minutes the better team one, but Simon Browne will I’m sure be not to displeased with his Team’s performance. They, at times especially in the first half gave the runaway league leaders a good run for their money (no pun intended), and did not allow their heads to drop when things went against them.

Team : Frampton, Antrobus, R. Jackson, Horlock, Merritt, Crow, Burbidge, Barron, Swann (Facer), Dancer (Khider) Toghill