Sydenhams Wessex Premier League

Saturday 10th October 2009 KO 3:00pm

CHRISTCHURCH V LAVERSTOCK & FORD

MATCH RESULT 2 - 1

1. Stewart Kearn
2. Adam Costello
3. Dan Taylor
4. Dan Crutchley
5. Steve Linpow
6. Dan J Taylor
7. Mark Smith
8. Marc Fairbrother
9. Ben Osborne
10. Tom Price
11. Paul Rideout

12. Robbie Woolner
14.James Burden
15. David Legg
16. Ben Lucas
17. Tom Jeffes

At a sun drenched Hurn Bridge Christchurch were fortunate to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games with a narrow win against opponents who could well cause some surprises for the remainder of the season.
The home side started strongly and nearly opened the scoring as early as the 2nd minute when the pace of Tom Price resulted in him chasing a long ball and lobbing the ball over the advancing keeper only to see it go narrowly wide.Two minutes after this both Rideout and Osborne had good chances but delayed shooting resulting in the away defence being able to clear their lines.
Laverstock then came into the game with their pacey wingers causing problems to the home defence but again the home side should have opened the scoring on 9 minutes when a fierce shot from Price hit the post & Osborne following up missed an open goal.
At the other end Kearn had to be alert to turn a shot round the post and from the resulting corner was grateful to see Rideout clear an effort off the line.
It looked as if both sides had left their scoring boots at home as Dan Crutchley then hit the bar with a header from a Mark Smith corner but then on 25 minutes Price again used his pace to good effect breaking the offside trap and crossing for Osborne to net from close range.
This had the result of spurring on the visitors and it came as no real surprise when following another left wing run to the byline and fine cross resulted in Adam Heath applying a neat finish from 10 yards for the equaliser.
It looked as if this would be the half time score but after 43 minutes with the best move of the match a long ball out of defence to Price resulted in him speeding away from the defence and feeding Mark Smith who scored with some aplomb.
This had certainly been an entertaining half which surely could not continue in the second half.
This proved to be the case and it was Laverstock who looked the livelier side in the second period and Church were grateful firstly to Kearn on two occasions with good saves and secondly to the referee who blew for a free kick to the visitors on the edge of the area when if he had allowed play to continue a goal would have resulted and also denying them a penalty from a clear case of handball.
In the last ten minutes Church should have increased their lead as with the visitors pushing men forward Smith twice and Osborne were clean through on goal but wanted too much time to apply the finishing touch.
After their mid week extra time a good 3 points but to continue their good run the defence will require to tighten up and the forwards to make more of the opportunities that come their way.

CHRISTCHURCH MAN OF THE MATCH: TOM PRICE

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