Saturday 27th December 2008
Sydenham’s Wessex Premier League

NEW MILTON TOWN v CHRISTCHURCH

Manager Graham Kemp turned up at New Milton with 18 players and selected this squad:

1 Stewart Kearn
2 Steve Linpow
3 Michael Green
4 Dan Crutchley (capt)
5 Chris Dillon
6 Adam Wiltshire
7 Mark Smith
8 James Burden
9 Ben Osborne
10 Russell Cook
11 Paul Rideout

12 Gareth Barnes
14 Dan Taylor
15 Colin Dand
16 Martin Lawrence
17 Elliott Peck

Christchurch started slowly in this Christmas local derby game and New Milton were soon testing Stewart Kearn in the Christchurch goal. Twice in quick succession Callum Burt made Kearn stretch to keep fine shots out and New Milton applied pressure with several corners. Christchurch skipper Dan Crutchley was booked for giving away a foul on the edge of the penalty area but when the free kick was taken the Christchurch defensive wall did their job to keep the strike away from goal. The half ended in controversy when following a Christchurch short corner Mark Smith burst into the area. It appeared to the Christchurch camp that Smith was brought down but the referee booked the midfielder for diving. New Milton were definitely the better team in the first half and perhaps Christchurch were fortunate to go into the break on level terms.

Half time: New Milton Town 0 Christchurch 0

The second half was a different game as Christchurch got the ball down and started to play their passing game. New Milton were reduced to breakaways as Christchurch applied the pressure with James Burden now on the Christchurch right providing several good crosses into the box. One move in particular saw Paul Rideout thread a gem of a pass through to Russell Cook who was thwarted by a brave save from New Milton keeper Rory Anderson. Steve Linpow, Russell Cook and Mark Smith all tried their luck with no success when suddenly New Milton broke out and a fine move ended with Warren Kenna driving home a terrific shot from the edge of the area to give the home side the lead. With less than 15 minutes left Christchurch soon got on level terms. Russell Cook had a good run down the right and as he beat the defender he pulled the cross back to Paul Rideout to strike home from 12 yards. Manager Graham Kemp made his substitutions to look for the win and it was 17-year-old debutant Elliott Peck who had a hand in Christchurch’s second goal. Again down the Christchurch right Peck used his pace to get behind the New Milton defence but his cross was cut out by the use of a defenders hand for a free kick. Up stepped Mark Smith and his expert delivery was met by the head of stooping Chris Dillon to win the game for Christchurch. Although New Milton will surely feel aggrieved to have lost this game Christchurch will believe that their second half performance deserved all three points.


Final score: New Milton Town 1 Christchurch 2

The Bridgeman