FAREHAM v CHRISTCHURCH

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

MATCH RESULT: 1 - 2

GOAL SCORERS: Tom Jeffes, James Burden

1. JO PRODOMO
2. COLIN DAND
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY
5. STEVE LINPOW
6. MARTIN HARRIS
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. TOM JEFFES
10. JACQUES BERNARD
11. TOM PRICE

SUB USED:

JAMES BURDEN


A superb strike from James Burden in injury time gave Christchurch all 3 points in a battling display that showed tremendous character after their mid week battering at the hands of Poole.

Manager Graham Kemp made changes after mid week especially in the back four looking for more defence stability and this certainly worked as the team worked as a unit throughout.

The first real attack of the game resulted in Church taking the lead on 10 minutes when from a superb Mark Smith free kick Tom Jeffes stole in at the far post to convert from close range. The home side then became victim of a fussy referee with 4 bookings the last of these resulting in them being reduced to 10 men on the half hour mark. With the wide players Fairbrother and Price especially the latter looking dangerous the visitors were in control without looking unduly threatening but Fareham were rarely in the game due in the main to the excellent work by youngsters Harris and Bernard and at half time the score remained at 0-1.

Skipper Dan Crutchley came close to increasing the lead on 49 minutes being denied by a superb save from the home custodian but as the game progressed the home side began to look more threatening without really troubling Jo Prodomo in the Church goal and just when it looked as if the visitors had weathered the storm Gary Austin equalised on 80 minutes with a left foot shot from an acute angle.

Straight from the kick off it looked as if Church had regained the lead when Price netted but he had been flagged offside and then both sides were reduced to 10 men on 86 minutes when the industrious Martin Harris was booked twice in the space of 2 minutes.
It looked as if a draw was to be the result but then substitute James Burden netted with a fierce drive from the edge of the penalty area when Fareham failed to clear a corner. There was still time for the home side to have another attempt on goal but in a situation similar to the winning goal the ball ended up clearing the bar.

As already stated this was a tremendous result showing immense character after the mid week failings and although a push to attain 6th place in the league will be difficult if a similar attitude is shown it is certainly possible.

Finally many thanks to youngster Jo Prodomo standing in for the suspended Stewart Kearn who was in the winning side in his two league games and can in no way be held responsible for the losing of the Poole game and he will always be welcome back at any time.

Lastly all the best to the lads at Totton in the Hants semi- final on Tuesday

Donners