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