SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE (WESSEX) PREMIER DIVISION

CHRISTCHURCH v FAWLEY AFC

MATCH RESULT: 1 - 0

GOAL SCORER: DAN CRUTCHLEY

1. DAN LOADER
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAN TAYLOR
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY (CAPT)
5. COLIN DAND
6. JAMES BURDEN
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. CALLUM BURT
11. SAM GRIFFIN

SUBS:

DAVID LEGG
JACK LOVELL
CHRIS SMITH
HARRY COOPER
JON GRACE

On a difficult windy day a solitary goal by inspirational skipper Dan Crutchley was sufficient to put Church back on their winning ways against a Fawley side who played neat attractive football and who in the last ten minutes came close to taking something from the game.

It was evident from the start that in view of the wind it would be a difficult afternoon and the visitors with the conditions in their favour for the first 45 minutes whilst passing the ball well did not really test Dan Loader with any shots and indeed it was Church who had the best chance of the half when on 43 minutes Sam Griffin was put through on goal after a neat passing movement but his effort was well saved.

Early in the second period a Callum Burt header from a Mark Smith corner was well saved and on 68 minutes a fierce Marc Faibrother shot from 25 yards hit the bar. Church were getting up a good head of steam and after 76 minutes nearly scored courtesy of a Fawley defender but the goal was not long coming. On 77 minutes an Adam Costello header from a Smith corner was well saved but Crutchley was quickly on hand to drive the ball into the net. Little had been seen of the visitors attack in the second period but they came close to scoring 3 times in the final ten minutes. Firstly Colin Dand, who had a fine game in the centre of defence, cleared off the line, injuring himself in the process, and then Dan Loader twice bravely had to dive at opponents feet to deny goals.

It was evident from the players celebrations following the goal of the relief at scoring and to get back to winning ways and now 2 difficult away games at Totton & Lymington follow.

MAN OF THE MATCH: DAN CRUTCHLEY

Donners

HAMPSHIRE SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINAl

CHRISTCHURCH v WINCHESTER CITY

MATCH RESULT: 1 - 3

GOAL SCORER: SAM GRIFFIN

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

SUBS USED:

COLIN DAND
JACK LOVELL
HARRY COOPER

Church finally exited the Hampshire Cup this time but not until they had put in a spirited effort against a lively Winchester side who on this showing must be firm favourites to win the Wessex league.

With keeper Kearn departed and his replacement Dan Loader cup tied youngster Tom Brown was in goal and he was quickly into the action saving well twice in the first 4 minutes. The visitors were showing their pedigree passing the ball well but Church began to use the flanks to good affect with Sam Griffin and Marc Fairbrother showing off their skills and forced 3 corners in quick succession around the 25 minute mark. However it was the visitors who were showing more threat in front of goal and Brown had to be at his best on a number of occasions to keep his goal intact. It came as a surprise when on 33 minutes Church took the lead when clever play by Ben Osborne set up Griffin who netted with a superb curled right foot shot. The lead did not last till half time though as after 41 minutes the leagues top scorer Jamie Wright netted from close range and Winchester were denied once again by Brown shortly before the break.

The visitors missed a golden chance to take the lead early in the second period when a free header went well wide and on the hour mark Church had their real only opportunity of the second half when Osborne was unable to get any real power on a Fairbrother cross with the ball going straight to the keeper. It was that man Wright again who put Winchester ahead on 70 minutes when he controlled a long clearance from his goalie and from fully 25 yards hit a shot into the net. This was quickly followed by a third goal from Lilley but Church did not give up the fight and youngsters Lovell and Cooper coming on as substitutes showed plenty of promise.

Manager Graham Kemp can take great heart from this performance after the Hamworthy result and can take great pride in the fact that this was the first defeat in all games at Hurn Bridge this season.

MAN OF THE MATCH CALLUM BURT CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY TOM BROWN.

Donners

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

HAMWORTHY UNITED v CHRISTCHURCH

MATCH RESULT: 2 - 0

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

SUBS USED:

JACK LOVELL
HARRY CORNICK


Church's long unbeaten run ended with a whimper rather than a roar when they were soundly beaten by a hard working Hamworthy side who were anything like a side who had lost their last six games.

The visitors started brightly enough with Sam Griffin on the right flank looking as if he had the beating of his opponent and Church had the first and as it turned out their last until injury time chance on 15 minutes when from a Mark Smith corner Shaun Brian had a header blocked by a packed defence.

However it was the home side who looked more threatening especially their centre forward Luke Burbridge and it was this player who gave Hamworthy the lead after 27 minutes when after a brave Dan Crutchley block the ball fell kindly for him to finish from an acute angle giving debutant keeper Dan Loader no chance. Church were fortunate to be only one goal behind at half time as Hamworthy squandered a number of chances created by Church not pressing the ball. One hoped manager Graham Kemp would resolve the problems during the break.

This was not to be as the home side had a number of chances to increase their lead before they did from the penalty spot after 63 minutes. The penalty was the result of a poor challenge and was dispatched by Burbridge for his second goal of the game. Church had their best spell in the last ten minutes of the game after the introduction of substitutes Jack Lovell and Harry Cornick and in injury time Callum Burt hit the bar with a header from their first corner of the second half.

Manager Graham Kemp must again be concerned with the lack of fire power in the final third but also with the fact that they were outmuscled and outfought by their opponents.

Donners

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

ALRESFORD TOWN v CHRISTCHURCH

MATCH RESULT: 1 - 1

GOAL SCORER: SHAUN BRIAN

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:

JACK LOVELL
HARRY COOPER

Playing at their bogey side Church dominated the game for long periods but in the end were indebted to a superb goal from defender Shaun Brian to come away with a share of the spoils.

Church started confidently passing the ball well but without really troubling the home keeper and their first real threat on goal came on 20 minutes with a move involving Mark Smith, Adam Costello and Sam Griffin resulting in a corner. Little had been seen of the home attack but they should have taken the lead after 28 minutes when a fine right wing run ended with a pass into the penalty area but from 10 yards and with a clear sight of goal the shot was well wide. Church continued to play some good football and nearly took the lead on the stroke of half time but only some fine defending denied James Burden a free header from a Ben Osborne cross.

Alresford started the second period by forcing a good save from Stewart Kearn from a 20 yard shot but Church then settled down and again began to dominate possession but it was not until the 71st minute that a real attempt on goal was made when Osborne turned and shot and his effort hit the post before finally being cleared. In the very next minute Griffin who was becoming a real threat was denied by the keeper after a fine Smith pass and youngster Jack Lovell was unlucky with his first touch after coming on as substitute with his shot being straight at the keeper. It looked as if it was only a matter of time before Church scored but as so often happens, especially at this venue , the home side scored on 83 minutes. However this Church side has plenty of character which it has shown on a number of occasions this season and this was no exception as 2 minutes after conceding the home side failed to clear a corner and from 20 yards Shaun Brian, who had been outstanding throughout, fired a superb volley into the roof of the net. Alresford came closing to snatching all 3 points but were denied by a fine save from Kearn and despite more Church pressure for the remainder of the game no real further attempts on goal were forthcoming.

Manager Graham Kemp can be pleased with the performance but must be a little concerned about the lack of fire power in the final third.

Donners

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

CHRISTCHURCH v NEW MILTON TOWN

MATCH RESULT: 2 - 2

GOAL SCORER: BEN OSBORNE (2)

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. JAMES BURDEN
11. SAM GRIFFIN

SUBS USED:

PAUL ROBERTS
JACK LOVELL

Whilst not being the best of starts for 2012 for Church this was an entertaining game that could have gone either way against a youthful New Milton side that included a splattering of AFC Bournemouth youngsters and on this display there is no way that they will be in a relegation battle.

The visitors started the better of the two teams and came close to opening the scoring after 14 minutes with a shot just off target and it came as no surprise when they took the lead 2 minutes later when a deflected left wing cross left keeper Stewart Kearn stranded and a close range header found its way into the net with very little challenge from the home defence. This brought Church to life and shortly after Ben Osborne was unlucky with a shot that was saved. It looked as if it was not be Church's day when in quick succession Mark Smith hit the underside of the bar with a fierce left foot shot and then from a Smith free kick Shaun Brian saw the keeper in the right place to save. However they were not to be denied an equaliser and this duly arrived on 28 minutes when the keeper tripped Crutchley and Osborne stepped up and duly hammered the resulting penalty into the roof of the net. It was New Milton though who came the closest to taking the lead as just before half time skipper Dan Crutchley cleared a goal bound effort off the line.

Church had the ideal start to the second period when from an Adam Costello cross leading scorer Osborne netted with a neat header and it then appeared that they would press home this advantage and score further goals. However this was not the case and the visitors had a 10 minute spell of pressure which eventually resulted in a second goal after 70 minutes. The remainder of the game saw both sides pushing forward looking for a winner with perhaps Church having more of the play but despite a number of corners and free kicks they were unable to score.

Manager Graham Kemp may be disappointed not to have won this game but as stated previously the opposition have vastly improved in recent weeks and will cause problems for sides for the remainder of the season.

One final point and a fond farewell to Paul Roberts for the next 3 months or so whilst he goes away to Australia. Due to injuries we have not seen the best of Paul but I am sure on his return he will be endeavour to rectify this.

Donners