NEWPORT (I.O.W) 2 HAMWORTHY UNITED 2
Sydenhams Premier League (Wessex) Saturday 5th Febuary 2011
Games between Newport and the Hammers have always been rather tight, but unfortunately for United the Islanders had won all the five previous matches. It looked as if they had done it again until a last minute penalty gave Hamworthy a share of the points that they at least deserved on their second half performance. Both teams were fresh from winning mid-week local derbies against Brading and Poole Town. Hamworthy named an unchanged side whilst Newport brought back one player after suspension.
United started the game kicking into a strong swirling wind on a stodgy playing surface that was not very helpful to their style of play. The Hammers like to get the ball down and pass the ball on the deck, but these conditions in the first half did not lend itself to this. Early exchanges were fairly even, but it was the Port who took the lead after 12 minutes. Ian Seabrook was found free on the edge of the penalty area, and decided to shoot. His powerful shot hit the inside of the post before going in past the outstretched fingers of the diving Sean Lillington, who appeared to slip as he took off. Soon after the United Keeper found another free kick too hot to hold on to before the ball was scrambled away. Newport continued to have slightly the better of the exchanges before the break, but most of their attempts on goal were from distance, and off target. Hamworthy’s best effort came from Stewart Cannie whose dipping free kick was pushed over by the Newport Keeper Gary Streeter. The Keeper was at fault however when he failed to deal with George Webb’s high cross into the box, and that led to the United equaliser a minute before the break. He failed to clear the ball, and it dropped to Stuart Cannie who could not miss with his header from a foot out.
HT 1-1
Hamworthy with the conditions now in their favour started the second half on top. They were now able to get the ball down and pass and move, which at times had the Port defence at full stretch to contain them. A dipping George Webb shot had beaten Streeter, but the ball was headed off the line by a defender. Newport appealed for a penalty when Sean Lillington had to react quickly to push the ball away, before the oncoming Charlie Smeeton could reach it. This resulted in a collision between the two players, but the lady Referee and her Assistant had no doubts that a penalty was not warranted. Newport again took the lead in the 61st minute from a corner which this time was converted by Smeeton. It was now Sean Lillington who appealed to the Referee claiming that he had been held, and prevented from reaching the ball. His claim was also rejected by the officials. The Hammers attack continued to trouble the Islanders whenever they ran at them. This resulted in a couple of near misses in the Newport six yard box. First of all a George Webb shot beat the Keeper before it was acrobatically cleared, with four or five Hamworthy players all appealing that the ball had already gone over the line. A corner followed which was headed down onto the foot of the post before being cleared. The Hammers pushed everybody up for the final few minutes of the game, and were rewarded with a penalty in the last minute. Greg Horlock burst into the six yard box and was about to shoot when he was brought down. This time there were no protests, and Luke Burbidge did well to keep his cool, and convert with the last kick of the game.
Team : S. Lillington, R. Murray (D. Spencer), R. Jackson, G. Horlock, M. White, D. Haysom, G. Webb, W. Robinson, D. Ewen, L. Burbidge. S. Cannie.