BROCKENHURST V CHRISTCHURCH

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

MATCH RESULT: 2 - 1

GOAL SCORER: MARC FAIRBROTHER

1. STEWART KEARN
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY
5. STEVE LINPOW
6. BEN LUCAS
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. TOM JEFFES
11. PAUL RIDEOUT

SUBS USED:

BEN HATCH
JACQUES BERNARD


The visitors were literally mugged in this local derby as apart from a 5 minute spell they totally dominated the game but in this 5 minutes the home side scored twice to clinch the 3 points. Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the second half in a match poorly officiated.

From the start Church were camped in the home sides half and they should have taken the lead on 15 minutes when Tom Jeffes set up Ben Osborne who shot just wide from 10 yards but the best chance again fell to Osborne on 33 minutes who after being sent through by Mark Smith screwed his effort past the post. Then came the 5 minutes of madness which cost the game as on 35 minutes in their first real attack Brockenhurst took the lead A home forward was allowed to run through on goal unchallenged and whilst Stewart Kearn saved well from the first effort the visitors defence failed to clear the ball resulting in the same player following through to score in an empty net. Worse was to follow shortly after when a handball by Paul Rideout from a free kick resulted in a penalty which was easily converted. So at half time the hosts led by 2-0 when Church had had the majority of the play but had failed to convert this into goals.

The second half started in a similar vein to the first when on 47 minutes Osborne headed over from 5 yards and a Smith free kick into the penalty area went past everybody including 2 Church players at the far post who only had to get a touch to score.

The main talking point of the evening then occurred on the hour mark when after a free kick was awarded to Church Stewart Kearn was sent off for violent conduct when out of sheer frustration he felled one of the home side in full view of the officials. In his defence the player concerned had elbowed skipper Dan Crutchley earlier in the game with no action being taken. Substitute Ben Hatch took over in goal with the unfortunate David Legg being taken off and quite remarkably and as a testament to the way Church were playing he had very little to do in the last 30 minutes apart from mundane matters.

Christchurch continued to press and on 70 minutes were rewarded for their efforts with a superb goal from Marc Fairbrother who after a short run finished superbly from 22 yards. It was then all one way traffic to the end of the game and the home side were also reduced to 10 men on 80 minutes when their centre half was sent off for 2 bookable offences inside 5 minutes but despite this constant pressure Church were unable to equalise despite being denied what appeared to be a good claim for a penalty due to a handball incident similar to the one that was awarded against them.

So a loss but there were so many positives to come out off the game and on another day it could have resulted in a victory by some 6 goals.

Donners

CHRISTCHURCH v MONEYFIELDS

HAMPSHIRE SENIOR CUP

MATCH RESULT: 4 - 0

Goal Scorers: Mark Smith, Tom Jeffes (2), Ben Lucas

1. Stewart Kearn
2. Adam Costello
3. David Legg
4. Dan Crutchley (c)
5. Steve Linpow
6. Ben Lucas
7. Mark Smith
8. Marc Fairbrother
9. Ben Osborne
10. Tom Jeffes
11. Paul Rideout

Subs Used:

Ben Hatch
Simon Keates
Jacques Bernard


Christchurch progressed to the semi-final of the Hampshire Senior Cup with an impressive 4-0 victory against fellow Wessex League side Moneyfields on a freezing night at Hurn Bridge.

The home side started well and could have been two goals to the good in the opening 12 minutes but on both occasions leading scorer Ben Osborne was off target. It was not much later that Church took the lead when the returning Mark Smith who was a major figure in midfield all night carried the ball 15 yards and then from the edge of the penalty area drilled a low left foot shoot into the corner of the net via the post. Church continued to dominate proceedings for the rest of the half snuffing out the visitors attacks before they reached the penalty area and one move consisting of a dozen passes opened up the visitors defence before Tom Jeffes hit the bar. This move was some of the best football seen at Hurn Bridge for many a year. Shortly before half time Moneyfields had their only real effort on goal in the whole game when a superbly struck effort from 20 yards flew over the bar.

The second goal came on 62 minutes with Ben Lucas netting from close range after Dan Crutchley had headed a Mark Smith corner back across goal. From then on it became the Tom Jeffes show as on 67 minutes he embarked on a 20 yard run and fine strike from 20 yards and then on 75 minutes he turned his marker before finishing clinically albeit with the help of a defenders deflection. In between his goals Mark Smith was unlucky not to net his second goal of the night when his fiercely struck shot was cleared off the line.

This was a very impressive performance all round including a clean sheet and the only black mark was a booking late in the game for Ben Lucas for a tackle when he won the ball cleanly!!.

Man of the Match: Tom Jeffes

Donners

CHRISTCHURCH v TOTTON AND ELING

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League

Match Result: 3 - 1

Goal Scorers: Marc Fairbrother, Tom Jeffes, Jacques Bernard

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

SUBS:

12. Jacques Bernard
14. Tom Price
15. Colin Dand
16. Simon Keates
17. Steve Green

It was a happy New Year for the hosts and especially 17 year old Jacques Bernard who was the toast of Hurn Bridge after coming on as substitute for the last 20 minutes and making one goal and scoring himself.

Both sides started well and it was easy to see why Totton are having a successful first season in the top flight. Firstly Ben Osborne headed wide and then skipper Dan Crutchley hit the bar from a David Legg cross whilst the visitors had two close range chances which were narrowly off target. Church made an early tactical switch with Ben Lucas having started in midfield and receiving an early booking moving back to his normal position of centre back and Dan Crutchley moving forward to take his place in midfield. This proved to be a very important move.

Shortly before the half hour mark Totton nearly took the lead when a fine left wing strike went just wide but then at the other end Church took the lead when Marc Fairbrother who was causing problems to the visitors defence cut in from the right and placed a left foot effort inside the far post. This spurred Totton on and for the last 5 minutes of the half they dominated play but thanks to fine defending Church retained their lead at the half time whistle.

The start of the second half started as the first finished and the visitors equalised on 46 minutes when a long throw into the box was not cleared and Marwood the Totton centre forward finished clinically from close range giving Kearn in the home goal no chance.

The game then ebbed and flowed from end to end with both sides spurning chances to take the lead but both Church substitutes were causing problems especially Tom Price with his pace but it was the other substitute Jacque Bernard who played in Tom Jeffes on 80 minutes who lobbed the keeper to put the home side ahead. Bernard himself then scored his first senior goal on 88 minutes when a left wing cross evaded everybody and he cut inside a defender to finish with some aplomb. A proud moment indeed for all connected with Christchurch especially his dad Tony.

This was an important win for Christchurch it being their first game for some 6 weeks against a good Totton & Eling outfit and especially it showed their fitness after such a long lay off. The next 10 days could well prove to be a major factor in how the season will finish as there is a quarter final Hants cup game and 2 league games in this period but it will see the return of influential midfielder Mark Smith and defender Dan Taylor to the fold after what must seem the longest suspensions ever!!

Man of the Match: David Legg

Donners