Saturday 8th September 2007
FA Vase 1st Qualifying round

COVE v CHRISTCHURCH

Christchurch made the journey up the motorway to Farnborough to take on Cove FC in the FA Vase.

Yet again manager Graham Kemp had to make changes to his starting line up:

1 Alan Walker Harris
2 Adam Costello
3 Michael Green
4 Tom Hughes
5 Charlie Pierson
6 Lloyd Jenvey (capt)
7 Dave Midgley
8 Kevin Collins
9 Robbie Woolner
10 Marc Burrows
11 Paul Rideout

12 Paul Manning
14 Simon Atkins
15 Martin Lawrence
16 Colin Dand
17 Lewis Till

For the first 45 minutes it appeared as if the players were still on the team bus. Following their battling midweek 1 – 1 draw away at last seasons Wembley FA Vase finalists, AFC Totton, the ability of this current Christchurch side is not in doubt. However, the first half performance was described by Christchurch spectators as “abysmal.” The opening 15 minutes looked promising as first Paul Rideout crossed for Marc Burrows to get a strike on goal. Sadly he shot tamely straight into the Cove keepers arms. Then Robbie Woolner put Rideout through but as he tried to chip the keeper he too placed the ball into the keepers arms. Cove gradually began to run the game with some neat midfield play and they looked dangerous at their dead ball situations. Cove were now winning almost every ball as the Christchurch side inexplicably stood off the Cove team all over the pitch. Cove were now creating chances and several shots and headers set the alarm bells ringing in the Christchurch defence. With Christchurch looking a pale shadow of the team that played in midweek it was no surprise when Cove took the lead. A corner from their right was headed back across goal and nodded into the net from close range. A short while later a good passing move down the Cove left flank ended when the ball was cut back inside and as Christchurch failed to close down the Cove attacker he had plenty of time to control the ball, pick his spot and shoot home from about 15 yards. Somehow Christchurch held out until half time without conceding again. I cannot accentuate what a pathetic performance it was from the Christchurch team during that 1st half.

Half time: Cove 2 Christchurch 0

Whatever manager Kemp said to his players during the interval is anybody’s guess but it certainly had the right effect. With the players sent out early for the second half it took them just 2 minutes to change the face of this game. Robbie Woolner was fouled and his quickly taken free kick found Dave Midgley wide on the right. He slipped the ball inside to the advancing Kevin Collins who turned and stroked the ball, low past the keepers right and into the Cove net. 2 – 1 and game on! Christchurch now looked a different side and were creating chances. Dave Midgley headed over the bar and from a corner Marc Burrows also headed over. Burrows was then put through on his own but instead of going for goal he unselfishly squared the ball to the fast advancing Paul Manning but the Cove keeper was quickly off his line to claim the ball. This was shortly followed by Midgley’s cross which bounced on top of the cross bar and behind for a goal kick. 15 minutes into the second half and Charlie Pierson won a crunching tackle on the halfway line, his superb pass picked out Dave Midgley on the right. Midgley took the ball forward a couple of paces before smashing it into the back of the net. This appeared to wake Cove up and chances were created by both teams as the game went from end to end. A collision involving Christchurch keeper Alan Walker Harris resulted in Cove being awarded a penalty kick, which was duly despatched to the back of the net. Almost 90 minutes gone and on came super sub Lewis Till. With Christchurch throwing caution to the wind and desperately getting forward, Tom Hughes powerful left footed shot was pushed up in the air by the keeper leaving Till to steer the ball home from all of 18 inches. Relief all round in the Christchurch camp followed this dramatic finish.

An entertaining game, which will be replayed on Tuesday 11th September at Hurn Bridge.

Final score: Cove 3 Christchurch 3


The Bridgeman