Saturday 22nd March 2008
Sydenham’s Wessex Combination division 1

CRISTCHURCH Reserves v DOWNTON Reserves

Manager Tim Collins selected the following line up:

1 Joe Pradomo
2 Darren Saunders
3 David Legg
4 Matt Collins
5 Steve Hillyer
6 Ian McIntosh
7 Rudi Reis
8 Alex Jones (capt)
9 Chris Mawer
10 Dave Sclanders
11 Paul Conroy

12 Peter Old
14 Shaun Brian
15 Ollie Dean
16 Dean Collins

The game started with a bitterly cold cross wind and contrasting bright sunshine. Right from the start the Christchurch side attacked and with just 3 minutes gone skipper Alex Jones slipped a beautiful through ball to centre forward Chris Mawer who expertly finished to give the home side the lead. Christchurch continued to attack with Alex Jones, Ian McIntosh, Darren Saunders and Chris Mawer all going close to extending the lead. Jones then repeated his previous glorious pass by once again putting Mawer through. A thunderous shot, which went in via the keeper’s right hand post, gave Mawer and Christchuch their second goal of the game. By now it was beginning to look like a training session for the Christchurch side but a tendency to hang onto the ball too long meant that several promising moves broke down. Downton got their first shot on target on 30 minutes but Joe Pradomo was well placed in the Christchurch goal to make a routine save. Barely 2 minutes before half time Christchurch’s Brazillian Rudi Reis swung a corner over for Paul Conroy to stoop and head the ball home. Immediately following this Christchurch attacked again and a venomous right foot volley from full back Darren Saunders was well parried by the Downton keeper. Dave Sclanders followed up well to score from the rebound. Half time and the result was all wrapped up.

Half time: Christchurch Res 4 Downton Res 0

The second half saw Christchurch pass the ball more efficiently and really this poor Downton side just could not live with them. Chance after chance were being created by this now rampant Christchurch side and 10 minutes into the half Ian McIntosh crossed for Chris Mawer to score with a bullet header and to complete his hatrick. Manager Tim Collins gave 3 of his subs a run out at this point and David Legg, Dave Sclanders and Matt Collins were replaced by Peter Old, Shaun Brian and Dean Collins. The intense pressure on the Downton goal continued and Chris Mawer went on to bag 6 goals in the game. Other scorers in the second half were Dean Collins, Rudi Reis with a perfect penalty kick and Paul Conroy with a goal that was worthy of winning any goal of the season competition. As a defender headed the ball out of the Downton penalty area Conroy connected with a left foot volley as the ball dropped over his shoulder some thirty yards from goal. The startled Downton keeper’s expression as the ball smashed into the back of the net was a joy to behold!

A good afternoon for the goal average but surely results such as this are not in anybody’s best interest.

Final score: Christchurch Res 11 (yes eleven) Downton Res 0

The Bridgeman