HAMWORTHY UNITED 1 POOLE TOWN WESSEX A 3
Dorset Youth League (Division 1)
This was always going to be a difficult game for the young Hammers in a vital match that would go a long way to deciding the eventual league winners. Many of the Hamworthy team were playing their first season at this level, and will be young enough to play again next season. The more experienced Poole Town team however have been playing together for several years and nearly all of them are now in their last season at Youth level. Although Hamworthy matched Poole Town for long periods the visitors looked the more dangerous on the attack. They got the ball out to their wide players who then whipped dangerous crosses into the box, which United did well to defend. One of these crosses was met by a looping header which appeared to be going wide, but instead found the top right hand corner of the net to give Poole the lead. The Hammers also had their chances but were unable to take them, especially when the Keeper fumbled on a couple of occasions. The Town went in at half time one up, which was probably about right on the play to date.
The second half continued much in the same way as the first, but all this was to change with the sending off of Rob Voysey. Poole Town hit United with a quick break through the middle, and as the Town striker went to round Rob Voysey he was brought down. Many thought that being that the ball was going wide a penalty and a yellow card would have sufficed, but a red was shown to reduce the Hammers down to ten. Skipper Vinny Vincent took over in goal, but had no chance with the resulting penalty. As so often happens with ten men United raised their game and were rewarded with a goal. A great through ball picked out Tony Hall one on one with the keeper, and he did well to keep his cool and slot the ball home to reduce the arrears. All this good work was undone when a terrible mix up between the stand in keeper and a defender allowed a very soft third and deciding goal for Poole. Hamworthy now have to rely on Poole not making up the five goal difference that they now need in their last two games to take the Championship from the Hammers. The game was watched by a crowd well in excess of 100 people, quite an advert for local Youth football.
Team: R. Voysey, T. Rolls, C. Perry, A. De Paola, R.Cooper, V.Vincent, I. Male (K. Graham), T.Hall, P.Bathie (J. Arnold), O.Clayton, L. Middlewick (L. Hamilton)