HAMWORTHY UNITED 5 LAVERSTOCK & FORD 2
Sydenhams Premier League (Wessex) Saturday 09-10-10
Sean Bartlett took charge of the Team in the absence of Simon Browne who was off playing cricket in the West Indies. Michael White (family commitment) Max Crow (suspended) and Ryan Murray (recalled by Bashley) were not available for selection, but Hamworthy welcomed back Lee Diaper for his first match of the season. Once again the Hammers showed both sides of their game. In the opening twenty minutes of the first half they were awful, and deservedly found themselves two goals behind against a team that wanted the ball much more than they did. As the game progressed however United got better and better, so that by the end of the match they were playing the fast flowing football that they showed in their previous outing, and were rewarded with a well deserved win.
The Hammers began the game very sluggishly and were second best in most things. It took Laverstock and Ford only two minutes to take the lead when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area following a careless foul. Dan Ackerman could only watch as the ball was chipped over the wall and into the far corner of the net. As on previous occasions when things were not going right Hamworthy tended to play the ball long and in the air. Will Robinson almost equalised after seven minutes, but his shot just flashed past the foot of the post. Three minutes later United slipped further behind with yet another bit of catastrophic defending. Not for the first time this season it resulted from yet another under hit back-pass. Gradually the Hammers began to get their game together, and pulled a goal back on twenty five minutes through Aaron Stacey who was making his second start for the First Team. He did very well to keep his cool after taking the ball off the hesitant Laverstock Keeper to find the net just as he was being closed down by other defenders. United thought they had equalised when they again found the net,only for it to be ruled off side by the Referee’s Assistant. Hamworthy were now very much back in the game, and did draw level five minutes before the break. Dan Haysom was on hand to get up and head home a corner that sent the Teams in all square at the break. This did not look at all possible after the first fifteen minutes of the game.
HT 2-2
The Hammer came out after the break looking to take the game to Laverstock. It took them just three minutes to take the lead for the first time in the match, and this was scored by Lee Diaper. Hamworthy were now a lot more relaxed, and on top dominating play with their passing game that was now much more in evidence. It was only a matter of time before United increased the lead which they did when Luke Burbidge scored the goal of the game. He finished off an excellent passing move involving several United players with an unstoppable shot past Matt Baker the Laverstock keeper. The Visitors were awarded a penalty, but a fine save from Dan Ackerman diving to his right kept the two goal cushion. This and another excellent save soon after prevented any hope of a comeback for the Salisbury team. Another piece of fine Hamworthy play saw Aaron Stacey put in one on one with the Keeper. He did very well to draw the keeper before lobbing the ball over him into the empty net, only to find the goal had once again been ruled out for off side. The Hammers finished off a very good second half display with another well taken goal this time by sixteen year old substitute Jack Satterley. With five minutes remaining he burst into the penalty box, kept his marker at bay, and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper into the corner of the net for goal number five for United on the day. This made it thirteen goals for the Hammers in two games which must be a Club record.
FT 5-2
Team: D. Ackerman, M. Antrobus, R. Jackman, G. Horlock, D. Haysom, A. Corby. M. Lawrence, W. Robinson, A. Stacey, L. Burbidge (J. Swann), L. Diaper (J. Satterley)
Unused Subs: S. LLewelyn, E. Roberts