SYDENHAMS PREMIER LEAGUE (WESSEX)

HAYLING UNITED v CHRISTCHURCH

MATCH RESULT: 1 - 3

GOAL SCORERS: BEN OSBORNE, MARC FAIRBROTHER, MARK SMITH

1. JOE PRODOMO
2. DAN THOMPSON
3. DAN TAYLOR
4. ADAM COSTELLO
5. SHAUN BRIAN
6. CALLUM BURT
7. MARK SMITH (CAPTAIN )
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. JAMES BURDEN
11. SAM GRIFFIN

On an afternoon with conditions more akin to the Arctic, Church were eventually good value for the three points against opponents who played for an hour with ten men due to their goalkeeper being sent off. The only black mark for Church was the sending off in injury time of their influential captain Mark Smith but more on this later.

Church were close to taking an early lead when on 3 minutes an Adam Costello free kick was spilled by the home keeper but Callum Burt following up was unable to net. The visitors continued to dominate play but were grateful for keeper Joe Prodomo as he made a good save in virtually the hosts first attempt on goal. Leading scorer Ben Osborne was unlucky after 23 minutes when after a neat turn he shot wide but the result was more or less settled on the half hour mark when the home keeper was sent off for violent conduct against Osborne who netted from the resulting penalty. The only effort on goal by Church in the rest of the first half was a Sam Griffin shot that was narrowly wide of the target.

It was expected that Church would continue to dominate play against the ten men but it was Hayling who started the second half showing more spirit and deservedly equalised after 55 minutes when Church failed on at least three occasions to clear the ball resulting in a scrambled goal. For the next few minutes Church struggled to make inroads into the home defence but their fortunes changed on 67 minutes with a wonder goal from Marc Fairbrother. Picking up the ball in his own half from the impressive Dan Thompson he skipped past 4/5 players and ended up with a fierce right foot drive from 25 yards into the top of the net. This was followed three minutes later by a goal of similar quality from the influential Mark Smith who from 20 yards found the net. It then became a question of how many more goals would follow as Church and Smith in particular dominated possession but through poor finishing and good goalkeeping no further goals were forthcoming. The afternoon was marred for Church when deep into injury time Smith was sent off for foul and abusive language.

Father to be Graham Kemp can be well pleased with the result and the performance of all the new comers and the next two away games at Romsey and Horndean will have a big say on the final place in the league table.

Donners

SYDENHAMS LEAGUE CUP (WESSEX) - QUARTER FINAL

CHRISTCHURCH v ROMSEY TOWN

MATCH RESULT: 3 - 1

GOAL SCORERS: JAMES BURDEN, MARK SMITH, TOM JEFFES

1. JOE PRODOMO
2. DAN THOMPSON
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY (CAPT)
5. ADAM COSTELLO
6. CALLUM BURT
7. MARK SMITH
8. JAMES BURDEN
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. TOM JEFFES
11. SAM GRIFFIN

SUB USED:

MARC FAIRBROTHER

The first of the quarter final matches of the Sydenhams League Cup saw Church come out top against strong opponents at a cold and wintry Bridge.

Church started the league cup fixture with a 4-4-2 formation, bringing back together Ben Osborne and Tom Jeffes, the dynamic duo that played so well together at Church in past seasons. Jeffes dual signed from Wimborne Town was available to play, electing to try and regain some of his fitness with actual game time back at the Club where he was so successful.

Romsey Town started the brighter of the two sides they looked strong and more hungry for the ball, they attacked in force and looked dangerous and on 20 minutes their hunger was rewarded when a penalty was awarded for a hand ball on the edge of the area, Romsey were 1up!
This seemed to wake Church up and they started to play, on 40 minutes some creative play down the left resulted in a cross from Legg which was eventually finished by James Burden after Smith and Osborne were involved in some clever play in the area to make it 1-1.

Half time bought a change, Ben Osborne came off still nursing an injury from 2 weeks before. Marc Fairbrother came on at right midfield bringing Mark Smith back into the middle of the park Church returned to their familiar 4-5-1 formation, Church started the second half brightly after 10 minutes the ball was slipped through to Jeffes only for him to be taken down in the area for a penalty which was converted by Smith 2-1 !

Church were creating chances now and it wasn’t long before Jeffes netted a very well deserved goal from a corner half cleared which fell to Smith who crossed back in for him to head home Church’s third goal. This took the wind out of Romsey and their heads seemed to go down after conceeding two goals in 10 minutes . Romsey have a strong side and will definitely take points from teams in the league .

Final score 3-1

Church not for the first time this season showed their character and deserved their win after coming back from being a goal down.
It must be said that Joe Prodomo also returning to Church on his debut had an excellent game and made a couple of vital saves.

Christchurch now look forward to a semi final tie against Downton