Saturday 22nd September 2007
FA Vase 2nd qualifying round

AMESBURY TOWN v CHRISTCHURCH

Two disappointing home performances meant that manager Graham Kemp was still having to change his line up:

1 Alan Walker Harris (capt)
2 Adam Costello
3 Tom Hughes
4 Steve Linpow
5 Charlie Pierson
6 Lloyd Jenvey (capt)
7 Paul Rideout
8 Martin Lawrence
9 Ben Osborne
10 Marc Burrows
11 Paul Conroy

12 Robbie Woolner
14 Michael Green
15 Colion Dand
16 Dan Crutchley
17 Ed Roberts

During the opening half Christchurch scored the only goal of the first 45 minutes when Paul Rideout skipped down the right wing, avoided two challenges, and then unselfishly cut out the keeper by pulling the ball back to debutant Paul Conroy who finished in style as he drilled the ball home from just inside the area.

Half time: Amesbury Town 0 Christchurch 1

The second half saw Christchurch play as we all know they can. They kept the ball well, passed accurately and finished well. The second goal came when Marc Burrows held the ball up, passed the ball out wide to Conroy who went forward and pulled the ball back to Burrows who passed the ball into the net beyond the distraught Amesbury keeper. Number 3 came as Paul Rideout, who is fast approaching the standards he set at the Club during his previous tenancy, beat three players on the right before taking the ball round the keeper to seal the game for Christchurch. Roobie Woolner came off the bench and scored twice with well-finished shots to make the final outcome an emphatic victory for Christchurch.

This now means that Christchurch will host Sandhurst Town of the Combined Counties league in the 1st round proper of the FA Vase on 6th October 2007.

Final score: Amesbury Town 0 Christchurch 5


The Bridgeman

Tuesday 11th September 2007
FA Vase 1st Qualifying round replay

Images from this match are in the image gallery .

Christchurch FC v Cove FC

With Tom Hughes unwell, but with Steve Linpow and Dan Crutchley now available, manager Graham Kemp announced his starting line up:

1Alan Walker Harris
2Adam Costello
3Michael Green
4Steve Linpow
5Charlie Pierson
6Lloyd Jenvey (capt)
7Dave Midgley
8Dan Crutchley
9Robbie Woolner
10Marc Burrows
11Paul Manning

12Kevin Collins
14 Simon Atkins
15 Paul Rideout
16 Lewis Till
17 Colin Dand

Following their poor first half at Cove on Saturday the Christchurch supporters could be forgiven for thinking that Christchurch would come out with all guns blazing in this replay. However with less than a minute on the clock Steve Linpow allowed the ball to run through to a Cove forward who fortunately blazed his shot well wide of the target. Play went straight up the other end and Dave Midgley played Marc Burrows in but his shot was well saved by the Cove keeper. That set the tone for this match and play continued to go from end to end throughout the 90 entertaining minutes. On 8 minutes Cove attacked down the right and the resulting cross was headed narrowly wide of the far post. Cove, just as in the first game were looking dangerous at their set plays and 15 minutes in another high ball from a free kick saw another header just miss the goal. Cove were showing some neat build up play in midfield and their speed and quickness of the mark was catching the Christchurch midfield out. An unnecessary foul by Paul Manning saw the free kick again lifted high into the Christchurch penalty area only this time the ball was not cleared properly and as Alan Walker Harris saved at the feet of a Cove forward the ball ricocheted to their centre forward who thumped it into the net to give Cove a deserved lead. A minute later and Cove almost increased their lead when a through ball pulled the Christchurch defence apart and as the stiker tried to flick the ball over the keeper Alan Walker Harris reached high to pluck the ball out of the air. Almost half an hour gone and Christchurch struck back. Dave Midgley crossed for Marc Burrows to net at the far post. Five minutes later and Migdley again crossed for Burrows to outpace the Cove defence but this time his shot was well saved. The rest of the half saw chances created at both ends as both teams looked capable of winning this cup tie.

Half time: Christchurch 1 Cove 1

At the start of the second half Cove attacked down the right and one of their tricky fast forwards beat two defenders before skipper Lloyd Jenvey covered to put the ball out for a corner. The corner saw another shot from Cove which flew wide of the goal. Play switched to the other end when Dan Crutchley played a superb ball through to Marc Burrows whose pace saw him one on one with the advancing keeper. Burrows kept his head and coolly used his right foot to lift the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net to give Christchurch the lead for the first time in this tie. Cove counter attacked and Christchurch’s young 17 year old defender Adam Costello misjudged a cross but Walker Harris was behind him to make a fine save. Lloyd Jenvey hit a post with a header from Midgley’s cross before a Cove attack down the left wing saw some great inter passing before the eventual cross was volleyed into the net for the equaliser. An hour gone and still all to play for. On 68 minutes following a Christchurch corner a shot was charged down and a debatable penalty awarded to the home side. No question as to who was going to take the penalty as Marc Burrows grabbed the ball and despatched it with ease to complete his hat trick. Still the game continued end to end when on 81 minutes Robbie Woolner was fouled and from the free kick the Cove keeper fumbled the ball and Woolner claiming the goal as both he and a defender appeared to bundle it over the goal line. Surely Cove couldn’t come back from that? As Christchurch tried to run the clock down Cove attacked. Several attempts were unsuccessful until the 88th minute when Cove attacked down the right and when the ball was pulled back it was smashed home to make a nail biting finale. Still more chances for Cove with Christchurch playing the ball into the corners until 96 minutes. A Cove free kick led to their final shot which was again off target allowing the referee to blow his final whistle.

Credit must go to both sides for entertaining us over the two games. Neither team would give in but fortunately it is Christchurch who go through to play Amesbury away in the 2nd qualifying round on Saturday 22nd September 2007.

Final score: Christchurch 4 Cove 3


The Bridgeman

Saturday 8th September 2007
FA Vase 1st Qualifying round

COVE v CHRISTCHURCH

Christchurch made the journey up the motorway to Farnborough to take on Cove FC in the FA Vase.

Yet again manager Graham Kemp had to make changes to his starting line up:

1 Alan Walker Harris
2 Adam Costello
3 Michael Green
4 Tom Hughes
5 Charlie Pierson
6 Lloyd Jenvey (capt)
7 Dave Midgley
8 Kevin Collins
9 Robbie Woolner
10 Marc Burrows
11 Paul Rideout

12 Paul Manning
14 Simon Atkins
15 Martin Lawrence
16 Colin Dand
17 Lewis Till

For the first 45 minutes it appeared as if the players were still on the team bus. Following their battling midweek 1 – 1 draw away at last seasons Wembley FA Vase finalists, AFC Totton, the ability of this current Christchurch side is not in doubt. However, the first half performance was described by Christchurch spectators as “abysmal.” The opening 15 minutes looked promising as first Paul Rideout crossed for Marc Burrows to get a strike on goal. Sadly he shot tamely straight into the Cove keepers arms. Then Robbie Woolner put Rideout through but as he tried to chip the keeper he too placed the ball into the keepers arms. Cove gradually began to run the game with some neat midfield play and they looked dangerous at their dead ball situations. Cove were now winning almost every ball as the Christchurch side inexplicably stood off the Cove team all over the pitch. Cove were now creating chances and several shots and headers set the alarm bells ringing in the Christchurch defence. With Christchurch looking a pale shadow of the team that played in midweek it was no surprise when Cove took the lead. A corner from their right was headed back across goal and nodded into the net from close range. A short while later a good passing move down the Cove left flank ended when the ball was cut back inside and as Christchurch failed to close down the Cove attacker he had plenty of time to control the ball, pick his spot and shoot home from about 15 yards. Somehow Christchurch held out until half time without conceding again. I cannot accentuate what a pathetic performance it was from the Christchurch team during that 1st half.

Half time: Cove 2 Christchurch 0

Whatever manager Kemp said to his players during the interval is anybody’s guess but it certainly had the right effect. With the players sent out early for the second half it took them just 2 minutes to change the face of this game. Robbie Woolner was fouled and his quickly taken free kick found Dave Midgley wide on the right. He slipped the ball inside to the advancing Kevin Collins who turned and stroked the ball, low past the keepers right and into the Cove net. 2 – 1 and game on! Christchurch now looked a different side and were creating chances. Dave Midgley headed over the bar and from a corner Marc Burrows also headed over. Burrows was then put through on his own but instead of going for goal he unselfishly squared the ball to the fast advancing Paul Manning but the Cove keeper was quickly off his line to claim the ball. This was shortly followed by Midgley’s cross which bounced on top of the cross bar and behind for a goal kick. 15 minutes into the second half and Charlie Pierson won a crunching tackle on the halfway line, his superb pass picked out Dave Midgley on the right. Midgley took the ball forward a couple of paces before smashing it into the back of the net. This appeared to wake Cove up and chances were created by both teams as the game went from end to end. A collision involving Christchurch keeper Alan Walker Harris resulted in Cove being awarded a penalty kick, which was duly despatched to the back of the net. Almost 90 minutes gone and on came super sub Lewis Till. With Christchurch throwing caution to the wind and desperately getting forward, Tom Hughes powerful left footed shot was pushed up in the air by the keeper leaving Till to steer the ball home from all of 18 inches. Relief all round in the Christchurch camp followed this dramatic finish.

An entertaining game, which will be replayed on Tuesday 11th September at Hurn Bridge.

Final score: Cove 3 Christchurch 3


The Bridgeman