MONEYFIELDS F.C. 3 HAMWORTHY UNITED 2
Sydenhams Premier League (Wessex) Saturday 21st August 2010
The Hammers went on the road again, with a goal tally of 8 from their previous two matches, so could they keep up this good scoring rate away from the County Ground.
It seemed unlikely for the first five minutes, as they were pinned inside their own half by a very good passing game imposed by the home side. Moneyfields stretched the Hammers all over the field with an accurate passing game which looked capable of scoring every time they went near Ackerman’s goal. However, despite this huge amount of pressure, the Hammers gave nothing away, and started to look dangerous themselves with the pace and energy of Luke Burbidge up front, and the passing and tenacity of Aaron Corby in midfield, so it really came as no surprise that the Hammers were first on the score sheet on 7 minutes, when a lovely ball from Max Crow in midfield over the top, released Burbidge on the home goal. He was tracked by a defender who was able to block his first effort from just inside the box, but the ball fell kindly for the youngster, and he punished Moneyfields with a clinical second effort. 1 - 0 Hammers. Moneyfields were unphased by the early goal, and continued with their wonderful passing game, from the goalkeeper, right through the team. They continued to look menacing and earned a quick equaliser on 10 minutes which rocked Hamworthy for it’s simplicity. A long ball crossed over from deep within the Moneyfields half appeared to have missed everyone beyond the far post, but a miraculous and acrobatic lunge by the Moneyfields forward, kept the ball in play, and with the defence appearing to switch off, the equalising goal was a easy finish for former VTFC Warren Hunt. 1 - 1.The game continued in much the same vain, until the 25th minute, when a Moneyfields throw-in deep in their own half found it’s way across the penalty area and right in the path of Aaron Corby, who thumped the ball in the net. 2 - 1 Hammers. Hamworthy United were a little unlucky not to score straight away to make it 3 - 1 when a good move around the home penalty area allowed Max Crow a rasping shot from about 25 yards which just missed the upright. The keeper didn’t move ! Perhaps the Boys could settle down and start to disrupt the Moneyfield’s passing game ? No, they couldn’t. The passing and movement of the home team was causing the Hammers a major problem, by spreading the field, and allowing more space which the Hammers could not fill quickly enough. A well worked passing move sent Hunt in on the Hammer’s goal, and only a good sprawling save with his legs by Ackerman prevented another equaliser. However, from the resulting corner, Moneyfields got back in the game with another simple goal, caused by very poor marking. The ball came over from the right hand side and was headed goalwards by an unchallanged Moneyfields player. With no Hammers defender on the line at the back post, and the entire defence spectating the action, it was a simple tap-in to tie the match up in the 41st minute.The Hammers weren’t done just yet, as a very good break out down the left, saw Cannie expose the home defence, but his cross was cut out with Burbidge lurking.
HT 2 - 2
Moneyfields started the second period sharper than the Hammers, and only a last ditch tackle by Michael White prevented exposing Dan Ackerman in the Hammer’s goal. The Hammers didn’t learn quick enough, because within 5 minutes of the re-start, and with one second half scare already, a simple through ball caught Hamworthy square and a text book finish put the home side ahead in the game for the first time at 3 - 2. Manager Simon Browne brought on two substitutes almost straight away, with Liam Currell replacing Joe Toghill, and new boy Dan Spencer replacing Martin Lawrence. Currell had been rested on the bench after his recent ankle injury and went up top to partner the ever industrious Luke Burbidge, while Stuart Cannie dropped back into midfield allowing Dan Spencer to make his league debut out wide on the right. He looked very sharp and oozed confidence on the ball when taking on defenders.The impact was almost spontaneous, as a good passing move down the right saw Crow chip the ball up to Burbidge, whose little flick on released Currell, but his shot hit the far upright and bounced out to safety with the keeper a mere spectator.The change of formation and the introduction of the substitutes appeared to spark the Hammers into new life. Corby was very unlucky when he chased down a backpass to the Moneyfields keeper, whose clearance struck him on the backside, and flashed just past the post.The final throw of the dice came on 80 minutes, when Mark Dancer replaced Mike Antrobus, the Hammers throwing everything into attack in an attempt to save the game. In reality, they had the chances in the last ten minutes to have won it. Good work on the right and a wicked cross from Max Crow, saw an unmarked Liam Currell head over the goal from only ten yards out, and a last ditch corner from Cannie picked out an unmarked Corby, running in at the near post, but his header, which should have found the net from 3 yards out, skidded off his head across the goal and went harmlessly behind for a goal kick.Dan Spencer showed his pace and enthusiasm when he raced back to become the last defender and thwart a certain goal moments before the final whistle. In the end a 3 - 2 defeat for the Hammers, which was a little hard to bear, taking into account the amount of chances that went begging. A harsh lesson to be learnt though I suspect, in closing down the opposition, and giving opponents too much time and space on the ball.
Hammers : Ackerman, Antrobus (Dancer), Toghill (Currell), Horlock, White, Llewellyn, Crow, Corby, Burbidge, Lawrence (Spencer), Cannie Unused Subs Roberts (GK), Merritt