Report: Verwood Tn 3-2 Lymington Tn - Wessex Premier

OFF!: A bad night for
Anteney-Wright

IN a match fraught with indecision and inconsistency, traits that were not limited to the players, discipline was always likely to win through over desperation.

And so it proved as Adie Arnold’s Verwood Town emerged from the fog that slowly settled over Potterne Park and the red mist of struggling Lymington to secure three valuable Wessex League points.

Despite taking an 8^th minute lead, the Potters fell behind to two quality strikes within three first half minutes, but after levelling before the break the hosts battled their way to victory in an otherwise dour second half.

Following the frenetic pace of the first 45 minutes, Verwood’s calmer approach deservedly paid dividends as Lymington, winless in 14 leaguematches since their opening day victory at Bournemouth Poppies, cracked under the pressure in a closely fought clash.

Merl Anteney-Wright may have been at the hub of the Linnets’ downfall in the second half, but in reality problems began to surface from the outset.

Verwood started the brighter with Anteney-Wright hacking Ben Kelly’s effort from a corner off the line shortly before Nathan Saxby’s driving run ended with Jack Satterley seeing his shot deflected wide. The Potters’ pressure was soon rewarded, though, as Mike Haskell bundled home the resultant corner inches from the goal line.

Lymington boss Andy Leader pulled no punches, screaming through the thick haze at his defenders “That’s embarrassing!” He wasn’t wrong.

But the visitors’ frustration continued to boil over as they tried to work their way back into the game with most of the venom fired at dithering referee Paul Knight. Leader seemed to lambast the match official with every whistle, setting the tone for a barrage of dissent from the visitors during the second half.

It was a shame, because the two goals in three minutes that turned the game on its head were as good as you’re likely to see at this level. First, a break in numbers saw Jordan Rogers burst through the middle and lay the ball off for James Fry who found Elliott Wykes at the far post. A calm touch was followed by a cool finish as Wykes nestled the ball in the bottom near corner.

The shell-shocked hosts then conceded another as Lymington broke again, working the ball from left to right with Jack Igglesden twisting back inside from the corner of the penalty area before blasting inside Chris Lynch’s far post.

Despite the setback, Verwood continued to probe while the visitors continued to moan. Granted, some of Knights’ decisions were questionable, but with a precious lead in their hands, Leader’s men should have lived up to their gaffer’s name instead of squabbling with the man in the middle.

With greater assurance on the ball, it came as no surprise when Verwood equalised before half time with a goal equal to Lymington’s high quality strikes. A well worked move down the right saw the ball pulled back to Satterley on the edge of the area who sent a rasping drive in off Stuart Williamson’s left hand post.

However, anyone expecting the same entertainment levels during the second half would have found the disappointment bite as hard as the chilling temperatures as Verwood lost their impetus.

Simple balls from left to right caught the Potters backline out too often, but Igglesden and substitute Roy Vinor spurned presentable openings either side of James Fry managing to hit the corner flag from a promising position.

It was from there that the frustrations boiled over with Anteney-Wright wrapping an early Christmas present for the hosts.

First, he crashed through Satterley out on the right after taking the ball with team mate Williamson lucky to escape with a booking for a lengthy verbal assault on referee Knight.

The real punishment was still to come though as Kris Anderton’s free kick was glanced across goal by Charlie Gajic, finding the top corner to add to Lymington’s disgust.

The visitors became ragged and Satterley almost sealed the victory when his thunderbolt rattled the post with three minutes left, but there was still time for Anteney-Wright to blot his copybook further, getting in a tangle and stamping on Verwood’s top scorer right in front of Knight who had no choice but to dismiss the fuming full back.

Knight found it difficult to leave the pitch at full time with Lymington skipper Luke Ansell, goalkeeper Williamson and staff from the visitors’ bench having plenty to say, but in truth they had only themselves to blame.

The Potters were worthy winners, not just for their mental strength in a testing match, but for creating the better chances. Back-to-back wins sees Arnold’s men climb to 14^th in the table with a nice gap emerging between themselves and the danger zone. Lymington may wish to take note.

*A SLIDESHOW from the match by Verwood photographer Roy Mortimer can be found here.

VERWOOD TOWN: Lynch, Evans, Kelly, Delaney, Dyer, Saxby, Gajic, Webb, Haskell, Satterley, Hill (Anderton 46). Unused subs: Smith, Murray, Roades, J Jones.

Goals: Haskell 8, Satterley 40, Gajic 76.

LYMINGTON TOWN: Williamson, Stacey, Anteny-Wright, Baker, Barnes-Andrews, Pancaldi, Igglesden, Ansell, Rogers (Vinor 46), Fry (Simms 77), Wykes. Unused subs: R Jones, Huggins.

Goals: Wykes 23, Igglesden 25.

STAR MAN: Jack Satterley (Verwood Town)

A constant danger, working hard to cause an error prone defence plenty of problems. Could, maybe should, have had more goals. Occasionally, the ball didn’t quite run for him, or the post denied him a wonder strike, but decisively got on the scoresheet at an important time and was a menace until the final whistle. Just ask Merl Anteney-Wright. 

Report: Bournemouth RFC 30-27 Taunton RFC - National 2 South

MATCH WINNER:
Dan Pollard

BOURNEMOUTH were forced to battle right to the end as tenacious Taunton failed to read the script and very nearly tore it into shreds in the closing stages.

Seemingly in cruise control against 14 men, David Dunn’s Lions almost threw away a third straight victory at Chapel Gate in the last ten minutes as the Titans clawed their way back from a 30-8 deficit to secure two bonus points.

The visitors ended the match with a higher try count than Dunn’s charges and only a controversial high tackle by Dan Connolly on Aron Struminski in injury time prevented a late collapse with the Titans wing wizard set to add a decisive fifth try.

Taunton were incensed, especially as a high tackle had seen their skipper Jemba Bull dismissed outright before the hour mark.

But on reflection it was difficult to argue that Bournemouth didn’t deserve their victory, and with some more accuracy in key areas, a slice of luck and some more favourable refereeing decisions earlier in the game, they could have been out of sight.

Key to another important home win was the performance of Dan Pollard, who not only succeeded with 100% of his six kicks, registering half of the Lions’ points total, but the stand-in fly half’s tackling at vital moments was timed to perfection and released the pressure when Bournemouth found themselves on the back foot.

Pollard kicked an early penalty, but with pace out wide and good handling in the opening exchanges, Taunton were a threat from the outset and a sustained spell of pressure ended with  Greg Charlton’s try on 10 minutes after choosing to drive for the line instead of kick from a favourable position.

Bournemouth were rattled and slightly late into a few tackles before grabbing a vital try with their first incisive move of the match. Charlie Grace found Pollard who set Connolly free down the left to score with plenty of room to spare.

And after landing the conversion, Lions’ number 10 sent the ball sailing between the posts with a tricky looking penalty earned by Ben Featherstone’s tenacity to give the hosts a 13-5 lead after 22 minutes.

Bournemouth could have added to their score, but Alan Manning was denied by some desperate defending while a loose pass from Paul O’Brien with the try line in sight left a few heads in hands.

A second try wasn’t far away through as Gavin Hart flung the ball out to Ben Stewart who marched over the line with options still available to his left. But Bournemouth still had to dig deep to maintain their half time advantage, Pollard managing to wrestle Struminski to the floor after Taunton man had evaded two challenges.

A match that had ebbed and flowed was suddenly dominated by the hosts after the restart as Lions threatened to run riot. Sam Hardcastle will still be wondering how he didn’t score after bursting onto his own kick, outjumping man mountain Chris Bentley and darting towards the line before dropping the ball at the vital moment. The crowd were still celebrating while the unfortunate error dawned on the Lions lynchpin.

As Bournemouth took control, Bull was sent off for a cynical tackle and the match appeared to be sewn up when Featherstone eased in for the third try.

Matters got worse for the visitors as replacement Sam Prior was sent to cool off for ten minutes on the hour mark, but against 13 men Lions elected to kick three more points, taking the match to 30-8 instead of pushing for a fourth try and bonus point.

Whether that decision provided Taunton with incentive, or whether it was Lions’ saving grace is subject to opinion, but two men light, the Titans found their resolve.

It was still going to take a moment of magic to light the blue touch paper and it was duly provided by livewire Struminski, running all of 35 yards down the left and cutting back inside to power his way through.

The returning Prior set up Sam Richardson to unsettle the hosts even further with four minutes left on the clock before the nerves really started jangle when Gary Kingdom intercepted an uncharacteristic sloppy pass from Pollard and ran in the easiest try of his career.

And with the gazelle like Struminski leaving three players in his wake as the clock passed 80, it seemed as though Taunton would complete the mother of all comebacks, but all of a sudden Connolly’s arm appeared, hooking his opponent to the floor with a move that Big Daddy would have been proud of in his heyday. 

It was the definition of taking one for the team. Calls for a penalty try came from visiting players and fans alike and Connolly looked mightily relieved as referee Keith Lewis merely signalled for a penalty.

It proved to be the final talking point of an entertaining afternoon as the Lions eventually recovered to dig deep. After taking such a big lead, they simply had to.

*Bournemouth Director of Rugby David Dunn shared his thoughts with the Bournemouth Echo at full time, feeling that the referee’s decisions balanced out over the game. Click here for the full interview.

BOURNEMOUTH: Trow, O'Brien, Connolly, Chilsett, Stewart, Pollard, Hardcastle, Featherstone (Carrel 59), Manning, Firetto (Peart 71), Seward (Wilford 71), Forrest, Grace, Cawley, Hart. Unused replacements: Higgins, Pearce.

TAUNTON: Kingdom, Hartley, Wilcockson, Bull, Struminski, Yapp, Conway, Morgan, Beddard (Prior 54), K Davies (Howells 67), Charlton, Bentley, P Davies (Gatford 54), Lee, Richardson. Replacements also featured: Turner, Plummer.

SCORERS 

Bournemouth: Tries – Connolly 18, Stewart 37, Featherstone 55.

Penalties – Pollard 7, 23, 62.

Conversions – Pollard 19, 37, 56.

Taunton: Tries – Charlton 10, Struminski 70, Richardson, 76, Kingdom 79.

Penalty – Kingdom 28.

Conversions – Kingdom 71, 80.

Rugby: Bournemouth 31-15 Southend - National 2 South

VICTORIOUS: Dunn

BOURNEMOUTH Lions returned to winning ways with a 31-15 bonus point victory over Southend on Saturday. 

In a tense battle at Chapel Gate, David Dunn's side battled their way through during the second half, running in five tries overall. 

The match report from the Bournemouth Echo can be found here while post match reaction with Director of Rugby Dunn can be found here. 

Report: Bromley 1-0 Worcester City - FA Cup 4th Qual Rd

CUP KING: Richard Pacquette
fires the winner for Bromley

IF anyone needed evidence that playing the beautiful game beautifully does not always win football matches, ten man Bromley’s FA Cup victory over Worcester City provided it.

Mark Goldberg’s team may not have passed the ball around with the finesse of their visitors, but essentially, there was purpose about their play in the final third. In the end, Bromley created much the better openings and deserved their place in the First Round for the fourth time in seven years.

Despite playing the last 15 minutes a man down following Moses Swaibu’s second yellow card, the hosts were still dangerous on the break and it came as no surprise when Richard Pacquette bundled home the last ditch winner.

Crestfallen Worcester players dropped to their knees as Bromley celebrated the winner. There was as much a sense of disbelief as gut wrenching disappointment.

But for all of the crisp passing and good possession, everything City did was in front of a stoic Bromley rearguard. Their performance lacked a dynamic edge where it mattered with key players Greg Mills and Danny Glover not involving themselves enough.

Worcester had more than enough about them to win this game, yet it had slipped from their grasp, and as frustrated City boss Carl Heeley booted a ball of the ground at full time it was clear he knew it.

It had started so well for the visitors with Tom Thorley going close with a free kick and Mills driving a fierce shot at home ‘keeper Joe Welch in the opening ten minutes.

Worcester were generally dominating, but Bromley soaked up the pressure and hit the channels early with the pace of Pierre Joseph-Dubios and Elliott Buchanan complimenting Pacquette’s physical presence up front.

Mike Jones’ jinking run set Pacquette away to drill a shot at Glyn Thompson’s legs before Buchanan missed the chance of the first half, scuffing well wide on the half volley from Sanchez Ming’s low centre.

Ming time and again exploited a weakness in City’s system, finding space down the right as Mills switched flanks leaving left back Ellis Deeney hopelessly exposed.

At the start of the second half, captain Ali Fuseini drove narrowly over from 25 yards after good work down the right by Buchanan, who headed Ming’s cross wide when well placed two minutes later.

Bromley’s pressure was relentless until the hour mark with a sitter falling to Danny Waldren but he sidefooted wide from Ming’s centre from ten yards with the goal at his mercy.  

The match calmed down as the visitors gained control, but there were no real openings for the visitors, even after Swaibu’s second yellow card ended up stretching the game.

The former Lincoln City defender mistimed a tackle from behind on substitute Danny Edwards leaving referee Craig Hicks little option, even if his first booking had been harsh.

Ming, however, was still providing an outball for the hosts while Jeromme Sobers, who came on to fill Swaibu’s void at centre half, coped manfully with City’s pressure.  

And Bromley saved the best for last with Ming’s 90^th minute cross half cleared as far as Fuseini who drilled the ball back across goal for Pacquette to slide in and grab the winner, sending the home crowd into raptures.

The hosts may be especially grateful to they scored when they did, as the goal finally jolted City’s misfiring attack into life with Glover seeing a shot deflected wide by Waldren before spurning their best chance with the last kick of the game.

A crescendo of whistles rang around Hayes Lane as Thompson punted a long kick forward onto Glover’s head. His flick on fell kindly for City substitute Michael Taylor who stole a march down the left side of the penalty area, but his shot rolled agonisingly wide of the far post with Welch beaten and the whistle that mattered was blown, along with Worcester’s FA Cup dreams.

The better side may not have won this game, but no one can argue that Bromley do not deserve their trip to League Two Fleetwood. Fifteen battled hardened minutes with ten men has earned Bromley another fifteen minutes of fame.

*Post match reaction with Worcester City boss Carl Heeley can be found here and here.

BROMLEY: Welch, Ming, Patterson, Fuseini, Swaibu, Harwood, Waldren, Jones (Malcolm 58), Joseph-Dubois (Sobers 77), Pacquette, Buchanan (Finn 66).

Unused subs: Howard, Rhule, Boateng, Daly.

Goal: Pacquette 90.

WORCESTER CITY: Thompson, Weir, Deeney, Thorley, Whitehead, Rowe, Breeze, Elvins, Symons (Edwards 74), Glover, Mills (Taylor 88).

Unused subs: Birley, Ayres, Polan, Khan, Sargeant (g/k).

STAR MAN: Ali Fuseini (Bromley)

Had his shaky moments, but his constant voice and presence in midfield guided his team through the tough parts of this clash. Gave Bromley the platform to get forward when they did get the ball, pinged good passes into key areas and got forward at the right times, setting up the winner late on when other central midfielders would have sat back with ten men. A massive influence on the result. 

Report: Bashley 0-1 Newport IOW - Hampshire Snr Cup R2

FRANK TALK: Gray wants more
from his Bashley players.

FRANK Gray called on Bashley’s players to fight for their futures after crashing out of the Hampshire Senior Cup following a 1-0 home defeat to Wessex League club Newport Isle of Wight.

A match of few chances at Bashley Road was settled in Port’s favour thanks to Tom McInnes’ strike nine minutes from time. Ross Gregory’s crossfield pass was collected by Kyle Lever for McInnes to plunder the only goal of the game with a downward header from close range.

Newport had the better of the opening half an hour but Bash battled back and established a foothold in the game.

James Stokoe’s diving header drew a full stretch save from Gary Streeter before the break while the hosts were hesitant in attacking areas after the interval with Tom Hill, Josh Casey and Matt Finlay guilty of dallying and wasting openings.

The visitors weathered the storm and rallied with Mark Augustos forcing Stewart Kearn into a low save before substitute John McKee dragged a shot wide with the goal gaping.

The goal eventually came, though, with McInnes’ strike quickly followed by McKee pelting the post as Newport grabbed the victory their slightly more incisive play deserved.

It left Bash out of three cup competitions and without a goal on home soil in 449 minutes of action, prompting Gray to look for more squad reinforcements.

The Bash boss said: “We have to look at things and change it round a bit. We had a few players out but the side should still have been strong enough to win the match.

“We need a little more strength in the middle of the park as we haven’t dominated through the middle as much as we would like to. Maybe we have to sacrifice playing some football to get more strength into the side.

“The only way you get through a run like this is by working hard, there is no magic solution. The lads who we don’t feel are working as hard as they can are the ones that will have to move on.

“It is very difficult to put fight, heart and spirit into a player. Some players are more motivated than others and you have to get the lads with the right attitude. First and foremost at this level you look for a bit of desire and the football almost becomes secondary.”

BASHLEY: Kearn, Strickland, Oliver, Vokes, Middleton, Richardson, Casey, Hill, Stokoe, Gradwell (Gamble 74), Finlay (Foster 74).

Unused subs: Gazzard, Cooper.

NEWPORT IOW: Streeter, Gregory, Oatley, Butt (McKee 63), Ovnik, Fleming, Powell, J Rayner, McInnes, Lever, Augustos.

Unused subs: McDonaghy, D Rayner, Simpkins.

Goal: McInnes 81.

STAR MAN: John McKee (Newport IOW)

Newport were a solid and workmanlike side, but this was a poor match with little quality until an inspired substitution did enough to gradually prize Bashley’s defence open. McKee offered pace in wide areas which proved decisive. The winger may have shown better quality on the ball at times but his impact was enough to make the difference.