Sydenhams Premier League (Wessex) Tuesday 12-04-11

Hamworthy did not come to life in this game until the second half when they were already a goal down. Simon Browne had to make changes when Max Crow and Dave Ewen both phoned in sick, but he did welcome back Mat Oldring from suspension and Aaron Corby from Naval duties. Young Jack Satterley made his first Wessex League start, and Michael White returned after attending a wedding on Saturday. Greg Horlock took his turn on the bench in another back line shuffle that started with three at the back.

Fareham attacked from the first whistle and soon had the United defence under considerable pressure. They attacked on both flanks sending dangerous crosses into the box which had the Hamworthy defence at full stretch. The Home side needed a little bit of luck and some last ditch defending to keep the Town from scoring. Sean Lillington did particularly well at full stretch to tip a Bryn Mckie goal bound shot over the bar. The Hammers gradually weathered the storm and at long last began to create a few chances of their own. They did in fact silence the few rowdy Fareham supporters behind the goal when they took the lead against the run of play on the half hour. Keeper Tony Harrop and his defence appeared to leave it to one another to deal with what looked like a harmless ball in. This left George Webb with the simplest of tap ins to put United in front. The lead only lasted four minutes before Fareham were awarded a corner from which they scored. A pin point cross found the League’s top goal scorer Graham Lindsey unmarked at the far post to head the ball home. With the half time whistle looming some poor defending again from another corner led to Fareham taking the lead. This time through Dan Hayes.

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It was a different Hammers team that emerged after the break, they were now on top, and it was Fareham that was at full stretch at times to keep them out. The Town did well to prevent United from getting many clear strikes on goal despite their good approach work, and gradually weathered the storm to get back into the game. With five minutes remaining goalkeeper Tony Harrop made a fantastic save from what looked to be a certain equaliser. He could only have seen the powerful volley very late, but somehow dived and pushed the ball over the bar for a corner. At the final whistle Simon Browne and the Hamworthy supporters were left wondering what the outcome might have been had their Team played the first half like they did the second?

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Team: S. Lilington, D. Spencer, R. Jackson,M. Oldring, M. White, G. Horlock, G. Webb, S. Lanahan ( P. Mullins), J. Satterley (G. Horlock), L. Burbidge, A. Corby

Sydenhams Premier League (Wessex) Saturday 09-04-11

This was a typical end of the season match with both Teams well free of relegation, with the Hammers particularly guilty of putting in another under par Home performance. They were without Michael White who was at a wedding and Will Robinson who was on holiday, but they still should have been strong enough to have won this game. Playing conditions were not easy on a hot day. The playing surface was bumpy, but was too hard to roll following Thursday night’s Cup match. This led to an uneven bounce which both teams at times found difficult to cope with.

For the first five minutes it was all United as Hamble were put under a lot of early pressure. They could have gone one down in the second minute when a dangerous low cross into the six yard box from Perry Mullins was not dealt with. The Keeper Jon Webb, and an outstretched Hamworthy foot both missed the ball before an Association defender hurriedly kicked the ball just over for a corner. Hamworthy had a golden opportunity to take the lead when a great delivery from George Webb found Perry Mullins unmarked. Unfortunately the United wide man could only head over when it looked easier to score. Gradually Hamble not got into the game, but gradually got on top. It was their turn to be unlucky when they hit the post with Sean Lillington only able to look on. Hamworthy continued to waste the opportunities that came there way especially at set pieces, and were made to pay the penalty seven minutes from the break. The cross from a corner was not dealt with and it was met at the far post by the unmarked James Roden who headed home.

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The second half showed no improvement in the standard of football played, if anything it got worse. Dave Ewen was too often left isolated up front as he battled to hold onto the ball until help arrived. Every now and again United showed glimpses of their passing game, but they were far too infrequent. The Association thought they had scored a second goal when again an unmarked player found the back of the net. To their disappointment and to the Hammer’s relief the Referees Assistant had already raised his flag for offside. Hamworthy too thought that they had salvaged a point when Jon Webb dropped the ball, and it was bundled over the line. The Referee however had spotted that Dan Haysom had handled the ball during the mêlée, and disallowed the goal.

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Manager Simon Browne kept the players on the pitch for a few strong words after the game.

Team: S. Lillington, R, Jackson, D. Spencer, G. Horlock, D. Haysom, M. Crow, G. Webb, B. Magookin ( S. Lanahan) D. Ewen, L. Burbidge, P. Mullins (L. Currell) Unused Sub: R. Voysey