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