Christchurch v Corfe Mullen

Match Result: 2 - 1

Goal Scorers: Lewis, Callum

After a good result last week we were looking for another decent performance against a team that were only a few places above us. Due to holidays and unavailability we were down to the bear minimum 11 players meaning players having to adopt to new positions.

The game started well with the lads knocking the ball around well. After 5 minutes Lewis broke down the right wing, cut inside to the box and drove a well struck shot that clipped the crossbar. Although Corfe Mullen made some counter attacks there were no real threats on our goal and we looked the side more likely to score. Callum and Brad were linking up well down the right hand side where we saw several good balls into the box delivered but to no avail. After 20 minutes a through ball broke to Lewis who managed to break free inside the 18yd box. Although Lewis could have taken the ball on he struck his shot early which their keeper looked to have covered. Unfortunately for him the ball fumbled in his hands and the ball crossed the line. A deserved lead and hopefully adding confidence to go on and score another.

However the lead was short lived and it was not long before an equaliser. On 23 minutes a counter attack by a Corfe Mullen midfielder caught our defence on a high line and a well struck shot from the edge of the box went high into the back of the net giving our keeper no chance. Their two strikers had good pace and started to trouble our defenders. On 25 minutes another through ball beat our defenders and as their striker bared down on goal looking likely to score only to be denied by a great save by Finn with his outstretched right leg. From looking comfortable Corfe Mullen were finishing the half the better when the half time whistle went.

Half time: 1 – 1

Team talk with the lads at half time explained some tactical changes with Callum playing a little higher behind the front two, Stuart to hold more in midfield and for Marley (playing centre back) to sit a bit more in front of the back three.

Second half started and the boys applied themselves well with the advice given. Four minutes into the 2nd half a corner was won on the right. Callum took a short corner to Stuart who laid the ball back to Callum. From the corner of the 18 yard box Callum floated the ball on goal which lofted straight over the keeper and into the back of the net. For the next 15 minutes we had several opportunities. Sam, Lewis, Callum and Jonathan all had chances but couldn’t get that third goal to give us that breather. The Corfe Mullen strike pair especially Mark (bandanna man) still gave our defence plenty of work to do with their pace but Marley played his part well in clearing up the loose balls. With 5 minutes to go Mark used his pace from the half way line to ghost past Jack C and then past Jack J to approach the corner of the 18yd box. Marley swept across to try and make a tackle but Mark unleashed his shot which went straight at Finn who held well. We started to panic a bit as the full time whistle approached especially in defence where the basics of clearing the ball when needed were forgotten. Instead we started to try and dribble with it and got caught in possession several times. With a minute to go we won a corner on the left hand side which Sam lofted in. The ball got cleared, only to fall to Marley who struck it very well from the edge of the 18 yard D. It looked like it would be our third goal but the keeper just managed to palm the shot into the air and caught the ball on the line. Full time whistle and our second win in a row !!!

Full time score : 2 – 1

Another confidence booster and a step in the right direction lads. Keep it up.

Man of the match: Callum Smyth

Christchurch v New Milton Eagles

Match Result: 5 - 2

Goal Scorers: Bradley (3), Lewis, OG

New Milton were one place above us in the league table, we were bottom, losing all 4 previous league games (plus 2 cup matches), New Milton had only drawn 1 match to date. We knew it was do or die time, we had to get off the bottom of the table and restore a bit of confidence.

As the 1st half kicked off New Milton Eagles mounted a quick attack, which our defence broke down, giving us time to settle in. Christchurch looked the stronger team, but we were making the match hard work, and it didn’t flow as well and easily as last weeks match against Gurnard. Despite numerous chances, the Eagles Keeper kept them in the game, making some excellent saves. After about 15mins, Eagles broke through, with a ball over the top, Finn came to collect a bouncing ball to the far right of his box, but spilled it and the attacker was quick to punish him for the error, putting us 0-1 down. About 10mins later, Eagles won a corner, which was lofted in over the goal line, Finn reached up and got hands to it, but couldn’t get a firm grip as it went in to put us 0-2 down. This was starting to look all too familiar, performing well but still losing!! Our luck changed though, as Miles supplied Lewis with a ball up the right wing. Lewis skinned his marker, to give himself plenty of space as he ran in on goal, & unleashed a well placed strike, in at the near post from 15 yards out. This put some light back at the end of our tunnel.

Half time score 1-2.

A few changes at half time saw Bradley playing upfront, Marley to left wing and Sam back into defence. Only minutes into the second half, Callum crossed a ball in from the right wing, which Bradley converted with a right foot volley and drilled it past the Keeper, to equalize at 2-2. Five minutes later, a dangerous ball in from the left wing was deflected in for an own goal by an Eagles defender, putting us 3-2 up. This lead lifted our spirits, as we started playing higher up the field. Our defence were clearing the majority of the counter attacks, but one of these broke through to 1on1 with our Keeper, Finn closed him down and made himself big as the shot was stuck. The goal-bound strike was denied by Finn’s out-stretched hand, to keep us in the lead.
Back in centre midfield, Philip played a ball though to Bradley who held off his marker and placed a tidy strike in at the left post, to see us 2 goals clear. The Eagles Keeper denied us chance after chance all game and although he spilled most shots, he cleared up swiftly. Another well placed ball in from the right wing, this time from Miles, found Bradley again, who was more than happy to volley in his hatrick.

Full time score 5-2.

A much needed win & confidence booster!

Man of the Match: Bradley

Christchurch v Gurnard Warriors

Hampshire Cup 2nd Round

Match Result: 0 - 5

After being informed teams from the Isle of Wight were very strong, we expected a very hard match. As the match kicked off, we looked the dominant team from the off, and after the first few minutes had passed I was sure we’d win this comfortably. Christchurch were working well as a team and our passing was outstanding, especially throughout the midfield. After 20 mins, we gave away a cheap goal, when the defence were caught in possession and Gurnard took the lead. A few minutes before half time, a through ball was played in to their striker, who out-paced our back line to put us 0-2 down at half time.

At this stage we were annoyed to be 2 goals down, as we’d had most of the possession and made it look as if ‘we’ were the only team on the pitch. But we were still confident we could turn this around. The second half saw more of the same, with some fantastic creative play from the midfielders and wingers, with through balls, 1-2 passing and over lapping play, but we found it hard to penetrate Gurnard’s 5 man defence, their Keeper also made some top draw saves. Gurnard scored a further 3 goals, one from a badly defended corner, another breaking through the back line, and a picked pocket as a pass across the back line was lazily not met by the left back.

The match finished 0-5, which was shocking considering we’d had around 75% possession throughout the match. This scoreline flattered Gurnard considerably, but hats off to them, they made our mistakes pay, and they certainly made the most of what little possession they had.

Man of the match: Too hard to choose between the midfielders, they all played stunning football.

Match Result: 4 - 2

Goal Scorers: Stuart D, Miles H.

Dynamos had had the same start to the season as us, with no League wins. So both teams were eager to get some points on the board. The match was evenly paced throughout, with opportunities at both ends. Marley & Dan working well together as centre backs. It took 20 mins for the first goal to come, as Phil dribbled a clearance out but lost possession and Dynamos drew first blood. Christchurch battled hard to turn it around, as the 1st half finished 1-0.

Half time: 1 - 0

At half time I switched Marley to striker to try and stretch their defence with his strength and speed, as Jack was hampered by a sore ankle. This paid off, as Philip crossed a long high ball, which Stuart received unmarked, and struck home to equalize. Again Dynamos took the lead again as they broke through the back four, Finn came out to close the striker down, but the strike was calmly taken and lobbed over his head as they netted their second. An attack up the right wing lead to a corner and a well placed cross from Callum found Miles who drilled a header home to bring us level again. Dynamos scored again with a repeat goal to their second. As we battled hard for another equalizer, Dynamos broke down our right wing and a long range goal-bound shot found Paul who tried to clear with a header, but didn’t quite connect fully, which wrong-footed Finn, to put them 2 goals ahead with five minutes to go, from which there was no comeback for us.

Full time: 4 - 2

Again Christchurch battled hard, & this scoreline did not fairly portray their performance.

MAN OF THE MATCH: CALLUM