ALRESFORD TOWN V CHRISTCHURCH

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

MATCH RESULT: 2 - 1

Goal Scorer: Tom Price

1. Stewart Kearn
2.Adam Costello
3. David Legg
4. Dan Crutchley
5. Ben Lucas
6. Martin Harris
7. Mark Smith
8. Marc Fairbrother
9. Ben Osborne
10. Tom Price
11. Paul Rideout

Subs used:

Martin Lawrence
Ben Hatch
Paul Manning

The writer probably along with all the spectators present had to look in the Sunday papers to believe this score line as a game which the visitors dominated from start to finish resulted in a defeat by a home side who mustered only a handful of attacks during the entire 90 minutes.

For the first 20 minutes Christchurch played some of their best football for many a year with movement, crisp passing and forcing a number of corners. However the most important factor was missing GOALS !! . It would have been fair to say that after this 20 minutes Church should have been at least 4 goals to the good but it was not to be.

Tom Price, who was extremely lively throughout and caused Alresford problems with his pace started the ball rolling in the very 1st minute with a shot that was tipped over the bar and from the resulting corner which was not cleared Ben Osborne looking offside missed from 8 yards. In the 4th minute from another corner there was an almighty goalmouth scramble and 2 minutes later Price hit the post with a header. On 15 and 16 minutes firstly Osborne shot just wide and Costello from another corner and with a free header headed wide. For the remainder of the half Kearn in the visitors goal was virtually a spectator as Christchurch pressed for that elusive first goal but continued to be denied but the most blatant miss was on the stroke of half time when the impressive Ben Lucas somehow contrived to put a header wide from virtually on the goal line.

The talk at the interval was it would be one of those days and we would end up losing 1-0 which was not far wrong. With their first attack of the second half and their first real attack of the game the home side took the lead when Kearn saved well but the ball fell kindly for another forward who was left with an open goal. Both players involved looked offside but it was one of those days. Christchurch continued to attack and on 62 minutes they were awarded a penalty when Price was brought down in full flight but leading scorer Ben Osborne shot tamely wide. Then as so often happens with Church sending men forward a quick break resulted in a second goal for Alresford with keeper Kearn lucky to still be on the field. In time added on for injury lo and behold a Christchurch goal by Price but too little too late.

Well done to the home side who could not quite believe the result themselves and it was a real case of déjà vu as this was the third game in a row they had beaten Christchurch and in all of these games they were second best in all aspects apart from scoring goals . With regards to Church on a similar day they will score 8 as looking on the bright side at least they were creating many a chance.

Donners

FARNBOROUGH NORTH END V CHRISTCHURCH

HANTS SENIOR CUP

MATCH RESULT: 2 - 6

Goal Scorers: Mark Smith (3), Ben Osborne, Tom Jeffes, Paul Rideout.

1. Stewart Kearn
2. Adam Costello
3. David Legg
4. Colin Dand
5. Ben Lucas
6. Martin Lawrence
7. Mark Smith
8. Jacque Bernard
9. Ben Osborne
10. Tom Jeffes
11. Paul Rideout

Subs used:

Ben Hatch
Marc Fairbrother
Simon Keates

Christchurch progressed to the last 8 of the Hampshire Senior Cup with a comprehensive victory due to a 4 goal spree between the 70th and 80th minutes against a gutsy home side.

The first 30 minutes were unremarkable although Church had the majority of the possession passing the ball well but on the half hour mark the visitors were awarded a penalty for the third of three debatable challenges in the area in a matter of seconds. Paul Rideout scored easily to make it 31 successful kicks from 32 attempts. You thought this would settle Church down but in the very next minute with virtually their first attack the home side equalised when a left footed shot come cross ended in the back of the net giving Kearn no chance. This spurred the visitors on and Ben Osborne headed straight at the keeper from 5 yards prior to Church regaining the lead on 39 minutes when Tom Jeffes superbly controlled an Osborne header and finished clinically from 15 yards. There was still time for Osborne to miss when clean through and also for the same player to put a header wide.

The first 25 minutes of the second half continued with Church having the majority of the possession and it came as a surprise when Farnborough equalised on 70 minutes when a break down the left resulted in an open goal. This spurred the visitors on and the influential Mark Smith then proceeded to net a quick fire hat trick the pick of the bunch being a superb free kick from the edge of the penalty area. In addition Ben Osborne netted a 6th from a Rideout cross and Christchurch were happy to see out the remaining 10 minutes.

An impressive display which this time resulted in goals being scored and special mention must be made of new dad Colin Dand who in a rare appearance never put a foot wrong and young Jacque Bernard for an excellent performance in midfield.

Finally many thanks for the hosts for being very hospitable and for playing the game in the right spirit there barely being a bad challenge in the whole game.

Donners

BRADING TOWN V CHRISTCHURCH

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

MATCH RESULT: 1 - 2

1. STEWART KEARN
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAN TAYLOR
4. DAN COSTELLO
5. BEN LUCAS
6. MARTIN HARRIS
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. TOM JEFFES
11. PAUL RIDEOUT

SUBS USED

TOM PRICE
BEN HATCH

Christhcurch continued on from their big win at Whitchurch on Tuesday with another away win. Although the margin was only one goal Church always looked the better side and could well have won by a bigger score.

All credit to Brading for ensuring the game went ahead and the visitors started brightly and on 8 minutes Ben Osborne was just wide from a Dan Taylor cross and on 15 minutes Tom Jeffes after a fine run shot narrowly wide. Paul Rideout had two fine efforts one being headed off the line and from the resulting corner Christchurch took a desrved lead when top scorer Osborne netted from close range (some thought it was an own goal but the writer is sure that Osborne had the final touch!!).

It was 28 minutes before Kearn in the visitors goal had a serious shot to save and he did well saving at the near post. Church should have increased their lead on the half hour mark when Rideout after clever passing was put through on goal but his lobbed effort went well wide. For the remainder of the the half the visitors continued to dominate with neat passing in midfield and were strong in defence with Ben Lucas being particularly impressive but they failed to increase their lead.

As has been the case in recent weeks Church started the second half strongly and skipper Dan Crutchley made it 2- 0 on 47 minutes when his first header was saved but after two recent Rideout efforts had been blocked the ball came back to Crutchley to finish emphatically.

It was nearly a third on 58 minutes but Jeffes was denied by a good save and as the weather worsened the home side began to threaten and only a superb high class save from Kearn from a header on 66 minutes denied Brading opening their account, however , they did score on 78 minutes when a disputed corner was not cleared and they netted from close range.

It would appear that the final 12 minutes would be difficult but this was not the case as the goal was Brading's last real effort and if anybody was to score it would be Church.

So 20 league games played, 13 of those away and a healthy seventh position and also evens on goals scored and conceded. It will be a difficult December but if the team show the same skill and effort they showed in this game then they have nothing to fear.

Donners