FA Cup - Sponsored by E-On Extra Preliminary Round

CHRISTCHURCH v HAMBLE ASSC

Match Result: 0 - 1


1. STEWART KEARN
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAVID LEGG
4. JOHN GRACE
5. COLIN DAND
6. MARTIN HARRIS
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. DAVE EWEN
11. SCOTT SANDERSON

SUBS USED:

STEVE LINPOW
BEN DICKENSON
JAMES BURDEN

Christchurch were unable to pick up from where they left off last Tuesday evening and disappointed in losing by the only goal to a hard working Hamble team.

The visitors started brightly and ex Church player Richard Gregory forced the first save of the match from Kearn in the 2nd minute and it was Gregory who was in the main responsible for Hamble opening the scoring on 7 minutes when his run down the left hand side resulted in a cross and with no apparent danger Martin Harris slammed the ball into his own net giving Kearn no chance.
Matters got worse for Church 5 minutes later when Adam Costello had to be substituted with a hip injury to be replaced by Steve Linpow. It looked as if the home side had equalised when after a Scott Sanderson shot had been well saved resulting in a corner Colin Dand rose at the far post to net from a Mark Smith cross but the effort was disallowed for an infringement elsewhere. For the remainder of the half it was the visitors who made the majority of the running and on at least 3 occasions should have increased their lead with the best chance falling to prolific scorer Musselwhite who tamely headed wide from 3 yards. The heavens opened just before half time with the optimists amongst us hoping this would bring a deluge of goals for Church.

Matters improved in the second half with Mark Smith taking control of the midfield and it was Smith if anybody who was going to score but in a matter of seconds he had 2 fierce shots charged down and shortly after Linpow headed over from a Smith corner. It was then constant pressure from Church but Ewen and Dand had efforts well saved by the Hamble keeper and despite the introduction of pacey youngster Ben Dickenson the visitors were able to play out time without too much trouble.

So for the 2nd year running after a good result in mid week Church exited the FA Cup at the first attempt but I am sure manager Graham Kemp will ensure that matters improve in the coming weeks although there are some testing away games during this period.

Donners