HAMWORTHY UNITED 4 NEW MILTON TOWN 1
Sydenhams Premier League (Wessex) Tuesday 16-08-11
Hamworthy picked up their first win of the new season by scoring all five goals at the County Ground. Both teams were eager to make amends for their defeats in the opening games on Saturday, and were keen to get their first points on the board. In the end the Hammers ground out a result rather than play their best football, this after going behind to an early own goal. Dan Haysom was still not up for selection serving the second of his two match suspension left over from last season.
Hamworthy began by taking the game to their opponents with Luke Burbidge just shaving the foot of the post with his shot in the first few minutes. New Milton took an early lead in the tenth minute much against the run of play, and what a bizarre goal it was. A high lob into the penalty box looked to be no danger until a terrible mix up between Keeper Sean Lillington and Greg Horlock. As the ball dropped, the United defender stretched out a foot and knocked it past his Keeper who was favourite to win the ball, and into the empty net. Luckily for the Hammers Town’s lead only lasted a couple of minutes. Sam Lanahan took full advantage of another mistake, this time by the New Milton Keeper to put his team level. Hamworthy continued to create chances despite New Milton working very hard to close them down at every opportunity. With thirty minute gone United took the lead their amount of possession deserved. Diane Bassiriki threaded an accurate through ball to Luke Burbidge who made no mistake with a low drive into the corner of the net. New Milton’s’goal scoring opportunities were far and few between and what there were ably dealt with by Michael White and his men.
HT 2-1
The second half continued with the Hammers on top, but not really playing at their best, and the Town working hard, but not really creating a lot from it. Hamworthy increased their lead about a quarter of an hour into the second period. Diane Bassiriki scored his debut league goal for the Club since joining from Poole Town. He celebrated his goal with a double somersault. For a period after this the Hammers appeared to sit back, and let New Milton back into the game. This nearly proved costly, and they very nearly conceded another goal. It took a very good last ditch save by Sean Lillington to save the day after his team in front of him had allowed New Milton too much time and space to manoeuvre. This near miss acted as a wake up call to the Home side, and they put the game beyond all doubt with a little over ten minutes remaining. Greg Horlock this time scored in the right end with a powerful header direct from a corner. This gave the score-line a fairer reflection of the game. To their credit New Milton never gave up and continued to fight until the final whistle, but on this evidence they could have a long hard struggle in front of them.
FT 4-1
Team: S. Lillington, M. Antrobus S. Lockyer, G. Horlock, M. White (Capt), W. Robinson, A. Corby, S. Lanahan (D. Spencer), (M. Head), D. Bassiriki (J. Satterley) L. Burbidge, D. Pidgley.