CHRISTCHURCH V ROMSEY TOWN

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

MATCH RESULT: 0 - 0

1. Stewart Kearn
2. Adam Costello
3. David Legg
4. Dan Crutchley (c)
5. Steve Linpow
6. Martin Lawrence
7. Simon Keates
8. Danny Taylor
9. Ben Osborne
10. Tom Price
11. Marc Fairbrother

12. Colin Dand
14. Robbie Woolner
15. Ben Hatch
16. Ben Lucas
17. Jacques Bernard

Christchurch stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games and also maintained their home record but these were the only positive points to come out of a dull game devoid of goalmouth action. The visitors had done their homework and had learnt lessons from their home defeat 2 weeks earlier and played a system that the home side were unable to break down.
The game started positively for Church and on 2 minutes from a corner Steve Linpow blazed well over the bar when well placed and Tom Price was causing havoc with his pace despite being constantly fouled. However it was the visitors who looked more likely to score in the opening half as on 10 minutes Kearn saved well when the home defence failed to clear a corner but the keeper was at fault when on 29 minutes he came and failed to collect a ball with the result that a shot went narrowly wide. A further mistake by Legg on 35 minutes again resulted in a poor finish and the half time whistle could not come early enough for Church.
Matters improved in the second half but despite having the majority of the possession the home side were unable to penetrate a solid hard working visitors defence and the best and probably only chance of the half came deep into injury time when only a superb save from Hookaway in the Romsey goal denied substitute Ben Lucas from scoring with a header.
A draw was a fair result as Christchurch were obviously tired after 3 extra time games in 2 weeks and on the positive side a clean sheet was kept due to a solid defensive performance.


CHRISTCHURCH MAN OF THE MATCH: STEVE LINPOW