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