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