CHRISTCHURCH 2 HAMWORTHY 1 (A.E.T.) ( 1-1 90 Mins)
Sydenhams League Cup (Wessex) Tuesday 19-10-10
Hamworthy can consider themselves more than a little unlucky to have lost this very closely contested cup tie. Their plight was not helped by a couple of very dubious decisions by the officials which had a major bearing on the outcome of the game. None more so than the disallowed goal in the first period of extra time. Simon Browne decided to rest a couple of the players who had done so well in the Totton & Eling game and give other squad members a chance. Michael White and Mike Antrobus gave way to Ryan Murray and Stuart Cannie in the starting line up.
The first quarter was very even with play moving very quickly from end to end, as both teams probed for an opening. Luke Burbidge went close after thirteen minutes when his shot just cleared Stewart Kearn’s crossbar from the edge of the box. The Hammers did take the lead nine minutes later when Luke Burbidge collected the ball in the box jinxed past two defenders and slotted the ball low into the corner of the net beyond Kearn’s reach. Christchurch were given the golden opportunity to draw level when they were awarded a penalty which no one apart from the Referee appeared to know why. Not one Christchurch player appeared to appeal, but it still resulted in a spot kick, and a booking for Greg Horlock.
Dan Ackerman made the first of his many good saves on the night to save the penalty. He saved a second immediately afterwards as a Christchurch man tried to convert the rebound. Christchurch did get back into the game shortly before half time taking full advantage of a lapse in the Hamworthy Defence. A harmless looking ball across the box evaded two United defenders before being bundled over the line by Ben Osborne.
HT 1-1
Hamworthy had the slight edge on play in the second half now kicking up the slope, but both teams failed to capitalise on the chances that they created. United were guilty at times of over elaborating and delaying too long before getting their shot away. This allowed the opposition the time to close them down to avert the danger. The Hammers were to lose the services of Aaron Stacey who was stretchered off with ligament damage to the back of his knee following a heavy tackle. This resulted in an overnight stay in hospital for the young front runner who had just broken into the first team. He is expected to be out for six to eight weeks. Both Teams could not be separated after ninety minutes and so extra time had to be played
FT 1-1
Hamworthy thought they had taken the lead early in the first period of time added on. Luke Burbidge took the ball to the by-line and squared it back into the six yard box. Substitute Jack Satterley ran on to the ball and slid it into the empty net, only to find that the Referees Assistant had his flag raised much to the amazement of the majority of people watching and to the relief of Christchurch and their supporters. This gave a lift to the home team, and they for the second time in the match made the Hamworthy defence pay for some slack marking just before the break. The up till then very reliable Greg Horlock failed to make contact with the ball that ran across him and through to a Church striker who scored from close range. Hamworthy should soon have been back on level terms when Aaran Corby weaved his way into the box round several players. Once again however he did not get his shot away before being closed down. The second period of half time saw the Hammers pushing up in an attempt to square the match and with Christchurch always threatening to hit them on the break. Despite their hard work United could not pull the goal back and ended up losing a game that they did not really deserve to lose. They should reflect however on the many missed opportunities they created, and hope that they can do better in the league game next week on the same ground. For the impartial observer it was probably a good game to watch, but not for the Hamworthy contingent. They left a little disappointed not at either team, but at the way the game had been handled.
Final Score 2-1
Team: D. Ackerman, R. Murray(M. White), R. Jackson, G. Horlock, D. Hayson, W. Robinson(D. Spencer)M. Crow, A Corby, L. Burbidge, A. Stacey (J. Satterley) S. Cannie,
Unused Sub: E. Roberts, J. Swann