SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

CHRISTCHURCH v TOTTON & ELING

MATCH RESULT: 1 - 1

GOAL SCORER: MARK SMITH

1. JASON COLLINS
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY
5. COLIN DAND
6. JACQUES BERNARD
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARK FAIRBROTHER
9. DAVE EWEN
10. BEN DICKENSON
11. PAUL RIDEOUT

SUBS USED:

BEN OSBORNE
BEN HATCH

A Mark Smith goal deep into injury time brought Christchurch a deserved draw after a second half performance that really should have resulted in all 3 points.

The home side started brightly and on 2 minutes Mark Smith was unfortunate not to score when firstly his fierce shot was charged down and from the rebound he fired over the bar. Youngster Ben Dickenson was continuing in a similar vein to Saturday with his pace causing problems but in their first attack of any note the visitors took the lead. A long ball down the left saw David Legg muscled off the ball possibly illegally and whilst the resulting shot was saved by Jason Collins in the home goal he was only able to palm the ball to Marwood who had the easy task of shooting into an empty net.
Church should have equalised on 11 minutes bur Adam Costello missed a clear header from a Smith corner but it was Totton who should have increased their lead on 19 minutes when they caused chaos in the home defence resulting in an effort off target. It was Costello again on 30 minutes who had two chances in the space of 30 seconds from two Smith corners when he was firstly denied with a headed opportunity and secondly shooting well over when well placed. The visitors at this stage were looking more likely to score and only a fine challenge by Colin Dand denied them a golden chance on 33 minutes.
The second half was totally one way traffic with Church spurning chance after chance the best probably being a Dave Ewen header on 48 minutes when a superb pass from Smith saw him with a free header from 5 yards that he put well wide. There was also a possible penalty on 62 minutes when Ben Dickenson was floored by two defenders in the area resulting in him being injured and substituted and early in injury time the visitors somehow scrambled the ball away. Just when it looked as if Church would never score maestro Smith who is Wimborne bound and was appearing at home for the last time was at the end of another fine passing movement and netted with a drive from the edge of the penalty area.
It was a fitting end for Smith who for the past two and a bit seasons has been an excellent performer for the club and the writer and indeed all concerned with the football club wish him well but a hasty return would be appreciated.
To sum the night up a point was well received in the end but in reality it should have been a win as the second half performance justified this as at times the passing and movement was a joy to behold but what a shame about the finishing.

Man of the Match: ADAM COSTELLO

Donners

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

CHRISTCHURCH v FAWLEY AFC

MATCH RESULT: 4 - 1

GOAL SCORERS: DICKENSON, OSBORNE, RIDEOUT, EWEN


1. JASON COLLINS
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY
5. COLIN DAND
6. STEVE LINPOW
7. MARK SMITH
8. JACQUE BERNARD
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. BEN DICKENSON
11. PAUL RIDEOUT

SUBS USED:

DAVE EWEN
JORDAN FREWIN


Christchurch were back to their best in a game they totally dominated against newly promoted Fawley.

Youngster Ben Dickenson caused havoc with his pace and was responsible for Church scoring two goals in the first 6 minutes. In the second minute he outstripped his marker but was unable to put in a good cross and then on 5 minutes he finished with some aplomb with a left foot volley from 10 yards to open the scoring. In the very next minute he created the second goal when a superb left wing cross resulted in Ben Osborne hading home from 6 yards.

The home side continued to dominate and Osborne should have made it three on 12 minutes but when clean through he shot straight at the keeper and it was then Paul Rideout who was denied a goal on 15 minutes by a fine save. Influential mid fielder Mark Smith then came close to netting on 25 minutes when his delicate chip hit the bar. As is so often the case in these circumstances Fawley reduced the arrears with their first real attack when on 28 minutes a free kick into the penalty area resulted in Wyeth with the aid of a deflection heading the ball into the net leaving home custodian with no chance.
The visitors then enjoyed their best spell of the game up to half time but Dand and Linpow stood firm in the centre of the home defence to ensure Church retained their lead.

Church started the second period in a similar vein to the first with Osborne being denied once more by the visitors keeper on 50 minutes but his best save came after 65 minutes when Dickenson forced him into a point blank save with a fierce drive from close range. Just when it looked as if Church would not add to their tally a third goal came on 73 minutes when an Osborne shot was well saved but was deflected into the path of Rideout who had the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net. The fourth goal was not long in coming when on 78 minutes a Mark Smith corner was firmly headed into the net by substitute Dave Ewen for his first goal for the club. There was still time for another youngster Jordan Frewin to make his first team debut and he looked very sprightly but it was that man or boy Dickenson who had the last say on proceedings when he fired over the bar after once again outstripping the visitors defence.

This was a fine performance with a good mixture of youth and experience and there were a number of contenders for man of the match but skipper Dan Crutchley who started off in midfield and then reverted to the back four when Steve Linpow was injured deserved it as over the 90 minutes he was an inspiration to all around him.

Man of the Match: Dan Crutchley

Donners