Magna Dorset Premier League (Saturday 11-09-10)

The Reserves were on the road again this time to Swanage Town & Herston. Rod Stacey’s team have now played five of their first seven games away this Season and face another two away games this month.

The Swanage side was strengthened by three players returning from injury and a new signing.

One of these Anthony Warrington scored the first two goals for the Home side. United were 2-1 down at the break after equalising through Jack Satterley, and Chas Meyer added another goal in the second period to make it all square. Just as it looked as though the match would end this way Swanage got a late winner.

Team; E. Roberts (R. Voysey), D. Gould, S. Moore (K. Stacey), D. Hyne, J. Byron, S. Read, A. Stacey, C. Meyer, S. Parker,J. Satterley, B. Satterley

FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round (sponsored by Carlsberg)
Saturday 4th September 2010

Hammers : Lillington, Antrobus, R Jackson, Horlock, White, Crow, Spencer, Corby, Burbidge, Currell (Merritt 84), Cannie Unused subs : Ackerman (GK), Satterley, Llewellyn

After a disappointing exit from the FA Cup in midweek at the hands of Western Premier League side Sherborne Town, the Hammers were keen to bounce back in this first qualifying round of the FA Vase, sponsored by Carlsberg. Their opponents, Larkhall Athletic were also a Western Premier League side, and sat high in the table, so the Hammers would have to be on top form.

They started very brightly, which had nothing to do with their change to orange shirts. As early as the 2nd minute, the home defence had conceded a corner after deflecting a shot at goal. Liam Currell ran through on the home defence, but he appeared to be obstructed on the edge of the box, but nothing was given.

The Hammers were experiencing some good possession and kept pressing forward. Good work down the right by Spencer saw a cross delivered to an unmarked Cannie at the far post, but his header went straight at the home keeper. A let off for the home side. The pressure the Hammers were applying finally paid off as early as the 4th minute. A long ball forward was flicked on by Cannie in to the path of Liam Currell. As the keeper came out towards him, he just lobbed the ball over him into the empty net. Hammers 1 - 0.

Inevitably, this sparked Larkhall into life, and they put a lot of pressure on the Hammers defence, but without forcing Hammers keeper Lillington into a save, but they looked menacing, and constantly pumped balls into the box. They had two very big frontmen, but they were marshalled pretty well by Michael White and Greg Horlock.

Larkhall’s first real attempt came on 10 minutes, when one of the crosses eluded the goalkeeper, who was always struggling to get there, but the header was put wide. A let off for the Hammers.

The game was swinging from end to end and was enjoyabe to watch, on what was a beautiful flat grass surface.

On 20 minutes, Hamworthy nearly doubled their lead. A corner from the left hand side wasn’t cleared by the Larkhall defence. The ball fell to Aaron Corby inside the box. His first effort was blocked on the line right by the post, and his rebounded effort was blocked. The ball rolled out to Cannie on the edge of the box, but his shot was high over the bar.

Just before half-time, the Hammers got the second goal their play deserved. Liam Currell beat the offside trap down the left hand side. He drew the keeper out before passing inside to the supporting Luke Burbidge, who neatly tucked the ball away. Hammers 2 - 0.

Larkhall had their best effort right on the halftime whistle. Another one of those lofted balls into the box, again saw Lillington beaten in the air, and the header from the forward bounced off the Hammers bar, with Horlock on the line, beaten.

Half Time : Larkhall Athletic 0 -2 Hamworthy United

Hamworthy started the second half in the same manner, which at times frustrated the home side. Luke Burbidge, a constant thorn in their side with his unselfish running across their back line, was flattened by one of their defenders, but the Referee was too leniant, and failed to show a card.

A series of passes down the left hand side involving Jackson, Spencer and Cannie, released Burbidge, but his shot hit the side netting.

The home side brought on a substitute who played as an out and out right winger. He was quick and suddenly caused Hamworthy some problems on that side of the pitch. The Hammers conceded a host of free kicks in a very short spell. One of those kicks brought a good strong and brave save from Lillington, as he went down to smother the ball among a series of feet.

The game was put beyond reach when Max Crow swung a corner over from the left hand side. An unmarked Liam Currell scored with a header at the near post, despite a defender on the post. Hammers 3 - 0.

Despite Larkhall continuing to seek a consolation, the Hammers held firm, although clearly tired from their efforts. Larkhall’s frustration spilled over in the last few minutes, when Corby was stamped on, while the ball was dead, and right in front of the Referee, but again he failed to deal with the incident properly and showed only a yellow card, when surely red would have been just.

A great team performance from back to front had rewarded the Hammers with a creditable win and the considerable Hamworthy United fans gave them a standing ovation as they left the field. The Hammers have been rewarded with a home tie in the next round against Verwood Town on the 18th September.

Steve Mitchener

EON F.A. Cup Peliminary Round Replay (Wednesday 01-09-10)
All those many travelling supporters hoping for a better display from the Hammers than that they had shown in the first encounter returned home from Raleigh Grove very disappointed. Instead they watched a poor all round Hamworthy Team that was outplayed for most of the match. Only Goalkeeper Sean Lillington starting his first full game for the first team really turned in a performance of note. If he had not pulled off several top class saves the result could have been a lot worse with the goal deficit at least double that of the final score.

Sherborne were up for the game right from the start using the long ball to good effect and causing problems to the United’s defence. Hamworthy instead of getting the ball on the ground tried using the same tactic, but were nowhere near as good at it as their opponents at it. Dan Spencer made some good runs down the right that unfortunately they finished with no end product as Sherborne were the first to the ball in nearly every case, and appeared to be much hungrier for the ball. The Town opened the scoring halfway through the opening period. This followed a quickly taken free-kick that caught Hamworthy flat footed at the back. A slick one two put Phil Ormrod through on goal and he made no mistake in finding the back of the net. United enjoyed their best period of the match in the last quarter before the interval, when they at last got the ball down and began to pass and move. They in fact had the ball in the back of the net twice; the first after the Keeper appeared to have dropped the ball, only for Referee Cobb to adjudge that he had been fouled. The second time it was the Assistant Referee’s raised flag for offside that disallow the goal. Had one of these goals stood perhaps the night might just have turned out differently for the Hammers.

HT1-0

The second half began as it was to continue with Hamworthy in complete disarray. Within a couple of minutes of the restart Steve Lewellyn ended a jinxing run into the box with a lunging tackle that resulted in a penalty that was safely tucked away by Andy Martin. Sherborne now relaxed and took full control of the rest of the game. A third goal soon followed this time scored by Danny Thompson, and to make things even worse for the Hammers James Merritt was sent off. Hamworthy were once again caught out at the back one on one, with Merrit pulling back his much quicker opponent. He was the last man and therefore was dismissed perhaps a little harshly. The Sherborne man still had plenty to do to make it into a goal scoring chance being a long way from the goal, but once again Referee Cobb went by the letter of the law, and showed a red card. Sean Lillington proceed to pull off a string of top class saves to keep the score at least respectable, and despite the substitutions Hamworthy had no answer to Sherborne’s determination and pace. The game finished with the Town keeper hardly having to make a save in the full ninety minutes.

FT 3-0

Team: S. Lillington,D. Spencer. M. White, G. Horlock, S. Lewellyn (Capt), R. Jackson, A. Corby, M. Crow (J. Satterley), J. Merritt, L. Burbidge ( L. Currell), S. Cannie (M. Dancer)

Unused Sub M. Antrobus