SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

BOURNEMOUTH POPPIES v CHRISTCHURCH

MATCH RESULT: 0 - 0

1. STEWART KEARN
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY (CAPT)
5. SHAUN BRIAN
6. JAMES BURDEN
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. CALLUM BURT
11. SAM GRIFFIN

SUBS USED:

PAUL ROBERTS
JACK SWANN
JOE KITTLE

A dour scrappy local derby on a difficult playing surface ended in stalemate and extended Church's unbeaten league run to 11 games ( 8 wins 3 draws ) but they were perhaps a little fortunate to come away with a point as the hosts missed a penalty late in the game.

Church started well and had the best of the first 15 minutes, indeed it was their best spell of the game, and came close to taking the lead on 5 minutes when a Sam Griffin cross shot hit the bar with keeper Max Frampton well beaten and when the ball was returned to the penalty area nobody was able to get a final touch. Also on 15 minutes Mark Smith released Marc Fairbrother on the right wing and after a fine run his cross caused panic in the home defence. However for the remainder of the half the hosts gradually took control and their aerial supremacy caused some concern for the Church back four but only resulted in some routine saves for Stewart Kearn in the visitors goal. The best chance for Poppies was after 25 minutes when the ball arrived in the penalty area but from 12 yards and with a clear sight at goal the shot was well wide.

The second half started in similar style as to how the first ended with Poppies in the ascendancy but the Church back four with centre backs Shaun Brian and skipper Dan Crutchley in good form stood firm and keeper Kearn dealt confidentially with any balls that escaped their attention. After 73 minutes a Sam Griffin shot was narrowly wide but in the next minute at the other end poor defending resulted in a foul and a penalty for the home side. However the penalty went well over the bar and ended up in the town centre!!

The remainder of the game passed without any further action in either penalty area.

Manager Graham Kemp and his team can be pleased with a point gained and must be congratulated on 2011 as a whole as this has probably been the most successful year in the history of Christchurch FC and may this continue into 2012. Happy New Year.

Donners

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

CHRISTCHURCH v NEWPORT IoW

MATCH RESULT: 2 - 1

GOAL SCORERS: BEN OSBORNE (2)

1. STEWART KEARN
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY (CAPT)
5. SHAUN BRIAN
6. JAMES BURDEN
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. CALLUM BURT
11. SAM GRIFFIN

SUBS USED:

COLIN DAND
JACK SWANN

Newport must be sick and tired of Hurn Bridge this season as this was their third visit and their third defeat but they must be wondering how they left this time with nothing to show for their efforts.

Church had the ideal start in the third minute when after a short corner played by Mark Smith to Marc Fairbrother his cross fell kindly for leading scorer Ben Osborne to swivel and shoot left footed into the net. Shortly after this the visitors had to substitute goalkeepers due to an injury which led to the introduction into the game of an old favourite Gary Streeter.

The remainder of the half saw Newport having plenty of possession but the Church back four were in solid form restricting them to long range shots which were off target but Streeter at the other end was not unduly bothered either.
Kicking down the slope to their favoured end in the second half it was hoped Church would add to their goal tally but the visitors looked the more dangerous and on 65 minutes keeper Kearn was lucky to escape when he overstretched but the ball fell kindly to a home defender who cleared the ball. However Newport were not to be denied and two minutes later a defensive mistake allowed them to draw level when Vale netted from close range.

Almost immediately though Church came close to taking the lead again but Fairbrother was denied by a superb save by the substitute keeper but he was given no chance 3 minutes later when the deciding goal arrived on 74 minutes. The influential Mark Smith won a challenge and played the ball wide to Sam Griffin who was having a Jekyll and Hyde afternoon but this time it was the latter as he beat three opponents and played the ball across the goal to Osborne who had the simple task of putting the ball into the net. Newport pushed forward and twice came close to netting at the end of the game when firstly a header went narrowly wide and then a deflected shot went into the side netting.

A valuable 3 points for Graham Kemp and his men who showed fighting qualities to keep right up there in the championship chase and also maintaining their unbeaten home record and I am sure that the visitors will cause problems to the other sides at the top of the table.

MAN OF THE MATCH: BEN OSBORNE

Donners

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

CHRISTCHURCH v FAREHAM TOWN

MATCH RESULT: 3 - 1

GOAL SCORERS: MARK SMITH (2), BEN OSBORNE


1. STEWART KEARN
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY (CAPT)
5. SHAUN BRIAN
6. CALLUM BURT
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. PAUL ROBERTS
11. SAM GRIFFIN

SUBS USED:

JAMES BURDEN
JACK SWANN

Church returned to league action for the first time in two weeks after their cup exploits and it was business as usual at Hurn Bridge retaining their unbeaten home record but it was far from easy against a Fareham side who belied their league position and were unfortunate to find home keeper Stewart Kearn in superb form.

Church came close to netting in the first minute when Ben Osborne was denied an effort on goal by a desperate last ditch challenge and from the rebound Mark Smith curled his left foot shot just wide. The next 25 minutes were fairly even with the visitors showing plenty of threat and it took a fine save from Kearn after 26 minutes to deny them taking the lead. The opening goal came 3 minutes later when Osborne broke the offside trap and his fine chip was well saved by the Fareham keeper but Smith following up walked the ball into the net. It looked as if Fareham had equalised on the half hour mark but Kearn made a superb save from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.


Kearn was again at his best in the first minute of the second half saving one handed from a twelve yard shot and whilst Church provided some neat passing movements the final pass was lacking and once again they were thankful for Kearn for preserving their lead after 66 minutes when a defensive slip up let in the visitors centre forward who was denied by the keeper pushing his shot round the post. Shortly after this though Church had a two goal cushion when leading scorer Osborne returned on the goal trail netting with a free kick from the edge of the penalty area. It was soon a three goal advantage with their best move of the match ending with Marc Fairbrother passing to the influential Mark Smith who netted with a fierce right foot shot from a difficult angle. This did not deter the visitors though and they got the goal they deserved finally beating Kearn when the impressive Wayne Bould was allowed to run across the field and netting from a difficult angle. Fareham continued to push forward but thanks to a couple of contentious offside decisions did not trouble Kearn again.

Manager Graham Kemp can be pleased of the return to winning ways whilst not at their best and climbing a place in the league table to fourth with games in hand and if these games are won second place will be attained.

MAN OF THE MATCH STEWART KEARN


Donners

HAMPSHIRE SENIOR CUP

GOSPORT BOROUGH v CHRISTCHURCH

MATCH RESULT: 1 - 0


1. STEWART KEARN
2. JON GRACE
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY (CAPT)
5. COLIN DAND
6. ADAM COSTELLO
7. CALLUM BURT
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. PAUL ROBERTS
11. SAM GRIFFIN

SUBS USED:

JOE KITTLE
JACK SWANN


Church exited their second cup in three days but can be proud of their performance against higher level opponents and also the fact that they played 78 minutes with 10 men.

There was a slow opening and the first real action which was to have a significant effect on the result came on 12 minutes with the dismissal of Jon Grace for an off the ball incident which was spotted by the referees assistant. This resulted in Adam Costello being removed from his midfield role to full back but the first 45 minutes action was mostly confined to midfield and due to the hard work of all the Church players Stewart Kearn in goal had a relatively quiet opening half.

The team talk given to the hosts at the interval obviously had the desired affect as Kearn was in early action making fine saves on 53 and 57 minutes but mainly the hosts despite having the majority of possession were woeful in their shooting and Church came close to opening the scoring on 65 minutes when Marc Fairbrother tricked his way into the penalty area and was denied by the Gosport custodian tipping his shot round the post. Kearn was again at his best after 74 making an outstanding save and the home side should have taken the lead on 78 when their centre forward shot wide when through on goal. However it was only desperate defending that denied Church on 80 minutes when Sam Griffin set up substitute Joe Kittle whose goal bound effort was charged down and Callum Burt shot just wide from the rebound. The only goal when it came was heartbreaking for two reasons as firstly it came after 89 minutes and secondly it was scored by an ex Christchurch player Tom Price but he must be commended on his left foot shot from 18 yards as Kearn had no chance in saving it.

Manager Graham Kemp can be very pleased with the performance and if the same pitch could have been used at Bitton on Saturday we could well have been expecting a visit from West Auckland. One final point and Gosport must be complimented on their ground and facilities as vast improvements have been carried out in the 3/ 4 years that they departed the Wessex League and it just goes to show you what can be achieved with the help of the local council.

Donners

FA CARLSBERG VASE THIRD ROUND

BITTON AFC v CHRISTCHURCH

MATCH RESULT: 3 - 0


1. STEWART KEARN
2. JON GRACE
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY (CAPT)
5. SHAUN BRIAN
6. CALLUM BURT
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. JAMES BURDEN
11 SAM GRIFFIN

SUBS USED:

JOE KITTLE
PAUL ROBERTS
ADAM COSTELLO

The dream of a Wembley appearance for Christchurch disappeared for this season at least on a difficult pitch against opponents with a pedigree in recent seasons in this competition.
The hosts started the better of the two teams but it was Church who had the first effort on goal after 4 minutes when a Mark Smith pass put birthday boy Sam Griffin in the clear on the right hand side of the penalty area and his fierce first time shot was just wide. However disaster struck in the next minute when after a harmless ball into the penalty area a mix up between keeper Stewart Kearn and Jon Grace resulted in the ball running free and a Bitton player walking the ball into an empty net. The home side should have increased their lead on 18 minutes with a free header that went straight to Kearn. Church were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men on the half hour mark when a late challenge by James Burden resulted in a yellow card when it could have been much worse. The nearest to a goal for Church came on 36 minutes when an intended Grace cross hit the bar but nobody was on hand to take advantage of the rebound. The half time whistle arrived with Church only one goal behind and with the advantage of the slope in their favour for the second half they could be optimistic that the score line could be turned round.

Indeed Church started the second half pushing forward and on 48 minutes the home keeper was forced to save with his feet. However as the visitors went in search of the equaliser they were caught out when a break resulted in a left wing cross being allowed to enter the six yard box and an easy goal from close range. All three substitutes were introduced but despite numerous free kicks and corners the home defence stood solid and once again against the run of play a third goal was scored by Bitton after 77 minutes.

Whilst obviously being disappointed with the result and performance manager Graham Kemp can take heart from the eleven consecutive victories and can now concentrate on the league and the league cup. Finally and this is not sour grapes but I will have great sympathy for any side having to play at Bitton in the next round as it is a great advantage for the home side.

Donners