Saturday 11th April 2009
Sydenham’s Wessex Premier league

CHRISTCHURCH v WIMBORNE TOWN

Skipper Dan Crutchley and defender Steve Linpow returned for Christchurch:

1 Stewart Kearn
2 Steve Linpow
3 Dan Taylor
4 Dan Crutchley (capt)
5 Chris Dillon
6 Andy Borthwick
7 Mark Smith
8 Marc Fairbrother
9 Ben Osborne
10 Tom Price
11 Michael Green

12 Ben Osborne
14 Martin Lawrence
15 Paul Manning
16 Colin Dand
17 Adam Costello

This game was overall a poor advert for Wessex League football. Over officious refereeing and with both teams indulging in seeing if they could put the ball into orbit led to one of the worse spectacles seen at Hurn Bridge this season. Any football came in the first half with Wimborne having the first attempt when Christchurch defender Chris Dillon cleared a shot off the line in the 4th minute. At the other end Tom Price was using his pace to trouble the giant Wimborne centre backs and on 7 minutes Mark Smith slipped a ball to Price out on the left. The young striker cut inside and struck his shot against the Wimborne post with Alan Walker-Harris well beaten. On 23 minutes Christchurch should have opened the scoring when a Chris Dillon throw caused panic in the Wimborne box. The ball came out to Smith whose miss kicked shot found its way through to Gareth Barnes all alone in front of goal. Sadly for Christchurch Barnes shot went the wrong side of the post with Wimborne appealing in vain for offside. Four minutes later it and was Christchurch who were appealing in vain for an offside decision which never came. Dan Cann on the Wimborne left crossed for ex Christchurch player Liam Green to slot the ball past Stewart Kearn in the Christchurch goal and give the away side the lead. Ten minutes later and Christchurch had a golden opportunity to level the score. Tom Price again used his pace to get beyond Michael Walker but this time the last defender pulled Price to the ground and the penalty was awarded. Unusually the referee deemed the penalty enough punishment and despite Christchurch expecting the appearance of a red card none was forthcoming. Ex Wimborne player Mark Smith stepped up to the spot and drove the ball high, wide and not very handsome at all to spurn the chance of an equaliser.

Half time: Christchurch 0 Wimborne Town 1

The second half was truly a non-event with Christchurch unable to create any real chances and Wimborne content to sit back and absorb any attacks that Christchurch could muster. The only bright spot of a stop, start second period was when Wimborne midfielder Tommy McCormick crashed a twenty-yard shot against the post midway through the half.


Final score: Christchurch 0 Wimborne Town 1

Christchurch Man of the Match sponsored by “Den’s Diner” GARETH BARNES


The Bridgeman

Tuesday 7th April 2009
Sydenham’s Wessex League Premier Division

CHRISTCHURCH FC v V.T. FC

Both teams were without key players for this match. Christchurch line up:

1 Stewart Kearn
2 Adam Costello
3 Dan Taylor
4 Colin Dand
5 Chris Dillon
6 Andy Borthwick
7 Mark Smith (Capt)
8 Marc Fairbrother
9 Gareth Barnes
10 Tom Price
11 Michael Green

12 Ben Osborne
14 Paul Rideout
15 Paul Manning
16 Martin Lawrence
17 David Legg

Christchurch played with two 18 year old centre backs, Chris Dillon and Adam Costello while Colin Dand took the right back position. Dan Taylor had been sent off in the cup game at VT earlier in the season but he started at left back. V.T. FC opened the scoring with a soft but neatly taken goal. With just 7 minutes played Barry Mason headed on a long diagonal cross, as Stewart Kearn came to collect Kevin Gibbens beat the keeper to the ball and headed home from an almost impossible angle. Just 4 minutes later another Gibbens header found the back of the Christchurch net but this was disallowed for offside. With the Christchurch defenders unable to come to terms with the many long diagonals that VT were playing it looked only a matter of time before the Boatmen increased their lead. Stewart Kearn saved a dangerous free kick and shortly afterwards Christchurch got back on level terms. A Chris Dillon long throw caught the VT defence by surprise and Gareth Barnes nodded it on to Marc Fairbrother who headed home from close range. VT were still creating decent chances and Barry Mason shot over when well placed, but Christchurch were now winning some of the individual battles and making inroads into the VT half.

Half time: Christchurch 1 V.T. FC 1

Manager Graham Kemp made a tactical substitution at half time bringing on Martin Lawrence to replace Andy Borthwick.

The second period saw Christchurch start with a bang and 3 minutes in Colin Dand found Michael Green wide on the left with a superb pass. Green showed the ball to his marker and then walked round him before delivering a truly excellent cross to the head of Gareth Barnes. Barnes made no mistake with his thundering header to give Christchurch the lead. Just three minutes later and the Priory scored again. Once more Michael Green crossed but this time VT keeper Lee Webber attempted to cut it out. Webber could only take the pace off the ball and it dropped to Marc Smith who intelligently played the ball back to Martin Lawrence who drove it home first time from the edge of the penalty area. On 55 minutes VT pulled a goal back with some great football as Barry Mason scored from close in. Kevin Gibbens had another goal wiped out for offside as VT pressed hard for the equaliser but the pace of Tom Price was troubling VT in Christchurch breakaways and Price twice went close to adding to Priory’s total. Stewart Kearn had to be alert in a one on one late in the game as Christchurch battled to hold on to their lead in this pulsating match.


Final score: Christchurch 3 V.T. FC 2

Christchurch Man of the Match sponsored by “Den’s Diner:” GARETH BARNES

The Bridgeman