HAMWORTHY UNITED 0 ALRESFORD TOWN 0
Sydenhams Premier League (Wessex) Saturday 8th January 2011
Not for the first time in the matches played between these two sides Alresford proved to be a difficult side to beat. Hamworthy had more of the play in the first half and completely dominated the second, but to their credit with some good goalkeeping together with some good defending and a little bit of luck the Town hung on for a 0-0 draw. The Hammers were without the services of their captain Max Crow who is now sidelined for eight weeks after chipping an ankle bone in the previous game against Totton & Eling. Simon Browne did welcome Stuart Cannie and Dave Ewen back into the squad after missing the previous game. Seventeen year old Dan Spencer was given the chance to make his first start for some time after recovering from a long spell of injury..
Hamworthy began the match kicking towards the school end on a sticky pitch, and in front of a healthy crowd of a hundred and twenty six people. The pattern of the first half soon took shape with United having a bit more possession than their visitors, and creating the better chances. One of these came when a well directed corner from Dan Hayson was met by the Hammers top goal scorer Luke Burbidge. Unfortunately he was unable to direct his header on target sending it inches wide of the post. Luke Burbidge again went close with another header shortly afterwards that ended the same way as his previous effort. Dave Ewing came closest to opening the scoring with a shot that looked destined for the top corner of the net. The Alresford keeper had other ideas however pulling off his best of many good saves during the game. He flung himself across the goal to finger tip the ball past the post to deny the Hammers a lead they probably deserved at that stage of the game. The Town played some good passing football of their own, but were denied a goal scoring opportunity by a well organized United defence. Both Teams went in at the break with no goals to show for an entertaining first half
HT 0-0
Hamworthy over the years have preferred to attack the Irvin Brown Stand end, and certainly started the second half by doing just that. In fact they continued to dominate the next forty five minutes without the reward they deserved. They were now totally on top, but unfortunately guilty at times of over elaborating, and were often closed down before they could get a shot away. To their credit Alresford defended well in depth and in numbers, with their Keeper pulling off a number of good saves to keep them in the game. Simon Browne brought on Stuart Cannie and Jack Satterley to try and get a winner, but unlike in the previous game the opposition held firm. In fact United were in danger at times of being hit on the break as they pressed up in search of a winner. The few attacks the Town did make however were dealt with before they could get a shot on goal, and they never really looked like scoring. At the final whistle the score remained goalless, but it certainly had not been a boring match. Both teams had contributed in their own way to an entertaining game. FT 0-0
Team: D. Ackerman,M. Antrobus, G. Horlock, M. White, D. Haysom R. Jackson,W. Robinson ( S. Cannie), G. Webb, D. Ewen, L. Burbidge, D. Spencer (J. Slatterley).
Unused Subs: S. Lillington, L. Currell, R. Murray