ALTON TOWN 2 HAMWORTHY UNITED 1
F.A. Carlsberg Vase 1st Round Qualifying (Saturday 10-09-11)
Another disappointing second half display from the Hammers meant that they have now gone out of both the FA Cup & Vase at the first hurdle. This is the first time that this has happened since they joined the Sydenham Wessex League seven years ago. Hamworthy had controlled most of the first half with Shane Murphy a spectator for a great deal of that time. All this good work was to be wiped out by a minute of madness in the second half when we surrendered our lead with two bits of sloppy passing. Diane Bassiriki was still injured and Sam Lanahan and Dan Spencer have gone off to University. Will Robinson returned after his holiday, Sam Lockyer started the game in midfield, and Matt Head and Dan Pidley were on the bench.
After their usual slow start and kicking with the slope the Hammers gradually raised their game. United should have scored when a Stuart Cannie corner dropped at the feet of Dan Haysom standing well inside the six yard box. The Hamworthy left back somehow managed to get the ball over the bar when it looked easier for him to score. Craig Atkinson who had been much the busier of the two keepers pulled off a good save from Aaron Corby. He also got his body in the way of a pile driver from Stuart Cannie diverting the ball out for a corner. Hamworthy must have been more than a little disappointed not to have been at least one up at the break.
HT 0-0
Town Manager John Robinson must have given his team a bit of an ear bashing at half time, because they certainly raised their efforts right from the restart. It was Hamworthy’s turn to be on the back foot as Alton really pressed them for the first time in the game. It was a little bit against the run of play when the Hammers did break free, and Jack Slatterley was needlessly pushed in the back in the penalty area. The Referee who was just yards away had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, much to the annoyance of some of the Alton supporters. The ever reliable Luke Burbidge for the first time this season decided to go for the opposite corner than his normal choice. Craig Atkinson dived and palmed the ball out, but luckily Luke followed up and returned the ball into the net to give United the lead in the fifty-fourth minute. Hammers were ahead for just five minutes before disaster struck twice in a minute. Karl Yelland instead of clearing out wide, passed the ball inside where Simba Mlambo took full advantage to even the score. Hamworthy were again in possession, and were on the break when another careless pass from Will Robinson proved to be very costly. He gave the ball straight to an Alton Player, and this led to Mlambo scoring his second goal of the game. It was ironic as many of the Home supporters in the stand had called for him to be taken off after he had a very indifferent first half. The most disappointing thing for the travelling United supporters was that heads now appeared to drop, and some players appeared to give up far too easily. Too often the ball was kicked long and up in the air with too many players not prepared to run back, and try and retrieve the ball when they lost it. They were making far too many simple mistakes, and they appeared unable to raise their game. Hamworthy did press for the last few minutes of the game, but it was all too little too late by then.
FT 2-1
Team: S. Murphy, K. Yellan, D. Haysom, G. Horlock, M.White, W. Robinson (D. Pidgley). A. Corby, S. Lockyer, L. Burbidge, J. Slatterly, S. Cannie.
Unused Subs: L. Wilkins, M. Head, S. Lillington (GK)