CHRISTCHURCH v LYMINGTON TOWN

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

MATCH RESULT: 5 - 2

GOAL SCORERS: PAUL RIDEOUT (2 PENS), STEVE LINPOW, BEN OSBORNE, STEVE GREEN

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

SUBS USED:

BEN LUCAS
STEVE GREEN
DAN TAYLOR

The score-line might reflect a comfortable win but at times, especially the first 20 minutes of the second half this was far from the case.

Church may well have taken the lead in the first minute but Tom Jeffes was unable to get the final touch to a Mark Smith cross. At the other end on 3 minutes Stewart Kearn had to be alert to keep out a 25 yard free kick and as play flowed from end to end Adam Costello’s cross from the right missed everybody and a Smith free kick was tipped over the bar by Smith in the Lymington goal. Adam Costello, still looking for his first league goal, hit the bar from close range and just when you got the feeling that it was to be one of those days A Ben Osborne shot was handled in the area and penalty king Paul Rideout scored easily from the spot. The lead was increased on 20 minutes when Steve Linpow rose unchallenged from a corner to head powerfully into the net. The visitors very nearly reduced the arrears in the next minute but were denied by a top class save from Kearn.

Church had another penalty on 33 minutes when Marc Fairbrother was fouled and once again Rideout scored easily. Rideout nearly scored his third two minutes later but after a fine run he shot straight at the keeper and then Tom Jeffes was put through after a Ben Osborne flicked header but he shot well wide.

Lymington reduced the arrears on 46 minutes when Kearn was harshly penalised for hand ball outside the area and from the resulting free kick Gareth Byers netted with a fine header. This gave the visitors fresh impetus and for the 20 minutes they looked lively and dangerous every time they attacked but Kearn was at his best during this period. In basically their first attack of the second half Church increased their lead when leading scorer Osborne netted at the near post from a Rideout cross. This did not deter Lymington however who scored their second goal after 69 minutes with a Luke Ansell header.

Play continued to be end to end but it was the home side who had the final say when Steve Green scored his first goal for the club from close range after a neat bout of passing.

With this win Church continue to push for a top 6 finish and will need full points from their next two home games against Cowes & Moneyfields for this to come to fruition.

MAN OF MATCH: STEWART KEARN

Donners