HAMWORTHY UNITED 2 MONEYFIELDS 2
Sydenhams Premiere League Wessex (Saturday 29-10-11)
Simon Browne kept the same starting eleven that had beaten Laverstock & Ford so convincingly the previous Saturday. As expected these opponents would prove to be made of much sterner stuff than Laverstock, and The Hammers had twice to come from behind to take a share of the points in a closely contested game.
The visitors started quickly, and had slightly the upper hand in the opening exchanges. The Hammers took a while to get into their rhythm and did well to contain the pacey Moneyfield front men, who passed the ball around well. It was Hamworthy however who came the closest to opening the scoring. Luke Burbidge ran down the wing, and rattled the cross bar with a 20 yard shot from the wide left that had keeper David Hook well beaten. Another good run by Sam Lanahan saw him pick out Dan Pidgley who shot inches wide. Moneyfields were still very much in the game, and took the lead when some slack marking helped Louis Savage pick his spot to score. The lead for the Portsmouth based side did not last for long, with United equalizing with the goal of the game. Luke Burbidge weaved his way through the heart of the Moneyfields defence before hitting a low shot past the diving Hook, and into the corner of the net. Both teams had their chances to take the lead before the break, but were unable to do so, and it remained all square
HT 1-1
Not long after the restart Moneyfields thought they had taken the lead, but they had not noticed that the Assistant Referee had raised his flag for off side. Luke Burbidge picked out Dianne Bassiriki in the six yard box, but some good defending prevented him from getting his shot away. Both sides were playing their part in an entertaining game, and a draw looked to be on the cards with about ten minutes remaining. Jake Slater took full advantage of a moment’s hesitation in the Hammers’ defence to run on to a through ball and smash it past the stranded Shane Murphy. It gave the Portsmouth side what looked like the winning lead with time running out. In the last minute however substitute Stuart Cannie made a run down the left wing that took him past three defenders. Just as he was about to be closed down he hit a cross to the far post which took a slight deflection that beat Hook, and the ball dropped into the top corner of the net. There was barely time for the teams to restart before the Referee blew the final whistle leaving things all square, which was probably a fair result over the ninety minute
FT 2-2
Team: S. Murphy, K. Yelland, S. Lockyer, M. White, D. Haysom, S. Lanahan ( L. Wilkins), A. Corby, M.Head, L.Buridge, D. Bassiriki (J. Satterley), D. Pidgley (S. Cannie) Unused Subs: J. Byron, B. Hayes (GK)