HAMWORTHY UNITED 1 G.E. HAMBLE 2
Sydenhams Premier League (Wessex) Saturday 13-08-11
There were a few disappointed Hamworthy faces both on and off the field at the end of the ninety minutes. After taking the lead with a very well worked goal fifteen minutes from time, the Hammers proceeded to lose the game with two lapses of concentration in the last ten minutes. Hambles’s name was not the only change that they have made this season. They fielded several new faces and are a lot bigger, stronger and more experienced team this time round. On this showing they should be end the season in at least a top six position. All this said the Hammers matched Hamble for most of the match, and created more and better goal scoring opportunities than their opponents over the ninety minutes.
The first half saw both Teams cancel each other out with both defences on top. There was a complete lack of any real goal scoring opportunities with neither Keeper being called upon to make anything other than routine saves. The sheer physical size of many of the Hamble side meant that they would always be dangerous from set pieces, and Michael White and his fellow defenders did well to keep that danger at bay. Although goal scoring opportunities were practically non existent the play was certainly not boring as both teams probed for an opening, unfortunately without much success.
HT 0-0
The second half followed the same pattern as the first for the first twenty minutes, but then gradually play began to open up. Diane Bassiriki and Luke Burbidge began to get the ball fed through to them on the deck rather than in the air which had always made Lloyd Webber and Co favourites to win the ball. Bassiriki went close with a snap shot from distance shortly before the Hammers opened the scoring in the seventy fifth minute. A quick exchange of passes between Sam Lanahan and Diane Bassiriki saw the Hamworthy new striker cleverly break into the right hand side of the box before picking out Luke Burbidge running through the centre. Last season’s top goal scorer kept his cool to find the corner of the net giving the Hamble Keeper no chance. The Hammers continued to apply the pressure and struck the post soon after, although the Referees Assistant had his flag up. Hamble raised their game and threw men forward in an attempt to get back into the game. Sean Lillington then made three magnificent point blank range saves to keep the Hammer’s lead, and frustrate the Hamble strikers. This all proved to be in vain however when some slack marking from a corner allowed Ashley Jarvis a free close range header to score almost immediately afterwards. Things were going to get worse for the Hammers with less than five minutes remaining and a draw looking to be on the cards. United were breaking out of defence, and had several options on, but unfortunately Will Robinson who had run his socks off all afternoon passed the ball straight to a Hamble player. This resulted in the ball being quickly returned into the danger area from where James Musselwhite secured all three points for his delighted Team and Manager.
Team S. Lillington, M. Antrobus, S. Lockyer, G. Horlock, M. White, D. Pidgley J. Satterley, W. Robinson, A. Corby, S. Lanahan (D. Spencer), L. Burbidge, D. Bassiriki.