Dorset County Youth League Division 1
Sunday 26th August 2007
Westland Sports v Christchurch
After a poor 1st game to the season, it was important to see us bounce back and start playing football. Ok we are a new team, but still, being on the end of a 5-0 thumping doesn’t do your confidence any good.
So Bank holiday weekend and we travel to Yeovil!! We got stuck in traffic, so our warm-up was limited. Nether the less it took us 17mins to net our first goal of the season. Alex Mason (playing in a new striker role) muscled his way through to slot past the keeper. Our lead didn’t last long as within a minute they had a free kick that caught us napping for them to equalise.
With about 5mins to go in the first half, the ball got passed through their defence to the on-running Max, who was shut down and clattered by their keeper (fairly done in the eyes of the Ref). He could take no further part, so was replaced by Dom.
Half-time 1-1
The second half started promisingly with James Wright (on his debut) causing their defence trouble down the wing, and it only took us 8mins of the second half to take the lead. Again muscling his way past the defence, Alex manage to slot his no.2 past the approaching keeper, much to the anger of their defence. However he was soon caught up in a tussle, which saw him booked, then in another where he was lucky not to be sent off. I decided to take him off and bring on out other sub.
Chances then came and went, with Olly proving to be too much for their defenders, and kept winning free kicks.
We tested our nerve constantly throughout the 2nd half, only for our skipper Dan to come to the rescue whenever called upon.
However it was with 6mins to go, the drama started. James whipped in a corner to be met by the head of Brad which found its way into the back of the net to make it 3-1! Two minutes later, they clawed one back after we failed to clear the ball.
But in injury time, James beat the left back to provide a cross that was met by Olly who (in the style of Thierry Henry), neatly slotted into the bottom corner with a tidy flick.
So on this tiring bank holiday journey, the coach trip home would be a happy one, coming away with 3 well-deserved points!! Our season has begun!!!!
Man of the Match: Dan Houghton
Final Score: Westland Sports 2 – 4 Christchurch
Match report by Pete Old
Brading Town v Christchurch FC – 25th August 2007
Sydenhams Wessex League – Premier Division
Brading Town 1 v Christchurch FC 2
Christchurch made the long journey to the other side of the Isle of Wight on a busy August Bank holiday weekend and came away with their first points of the season.
Once again injuries and unavailability meant that manager Graham Kemp had to make several changes to his starting line up:
1 Alan Walker Harris (capt)
2 Adam Costello
3 Michael Green
4 Tom Hughes
5 Charlie Pierson
6 Dan Crutchley
7 Paul Manning (debut)
8 Kevin Collins
9 Ben Osborne
10 Marc Burrows
11 Simon Atkins
12 Robbie Woolner
14 Dan Marks
15 Paul Rideout
16 Paul Conroy
17 Steve Linpow
Playing down the slope in the first half Christchurch made a bright opening, on 5 minutes Marc Burrows crossed for Dan Crutchley who managed to send the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score. On 12 minutes Marc Burrows then blazed another good opportunity over the bar. Christchurch continued to dominate much of the first half yet Brading finished the half dangerously when Adam Costello had to clear off his own goal line with keeper Alan Walker Harris beaten.
Half time: Brading Town 0 Christchurch 0
Just 8 minutes into the second half and Christchurch took the lead. One of many innocuous free kicks awarded by an over fussy match official led to Paul Manning crossing for Charlie Pierson to head back across goal and into the danger area where Ben Osborne was first to react as he stabbed the ball home from close range. One goal up and looking good value at that, surely Christchurch would gain their first points of the season? No it wasn’t quite like that, 22 minutes gone and manager Kemp says something out of turn and the referee invites Kempie to leave the dugout. Within a minute Brading have equalised as several Christchurch defenders spurn the opportunity to clear the ball and a grateful home player lashes the ball high into the net giving Walker Harris no chance. Chances came and went at both ends as the game opened out and the players visibly wilted in the searing heat. Brading hit the inside of a post, Paul Rideout had a shot cleared off the line as play went from end to end. With the ninety minutes up another high ball is played into Brading’s box, with Robbie Woolner challenging the keeper the ball went through to Tom Hughes who netted the winner with a header from all of one yard from the goal line. This triggered wild celebrations from the Christchurch contingent and a minute later the referee blew for full time. An eventful afternoon on the Island of sunshine.
The Bridgeman
Wimborne Town Reserves v Christchurch FC Reserves 2007-08-22
Sydenhams Wessex League – Combination 1
Wimborne Town Res 0 v Christchurch Res 2
After losing at Horndean on Saturday, it was important to get something from our second game of the season which was going to be a difficult game away to Wimborne Town. Both sides started well, but it was Christchurch who settled down the quickest creating some good chances, when Paul Conroy converted after a good run from the left. Christchurch saw out the half on top and went in 1- 0 up. Second half both sides started well and it was end to end football, but again Christchurch's quality shone out and we made good opportunities infront of goal, this spell of good pressure resulted in Chris Mawer scoring our second goal. It was an excellent team performance both defensively through the midfield and strikers and also the lads that came on. Wimborne Town is a difficult place to go and against a good reserve side this is a excellent result.
Poole Town v Christchurch FC 2007-08-21
Poole Town 2 Christchurch FC 1
Unbeaten Poole Town took on pointless Christchurch at Tatnam in front of a large crowd. Christchurch manager Graham Kemp was forced to make 3 changes from Saturdays line up. Out were unavailable centre back Charlie Peirson, injured left back Michael Green and just before the game right back Adam Costello failed a late fitness test. Despite all this Christchurch took the lead on 10 minutes when Marc Burrows got behind the Poole defence and smashed home an unstoppable shot to give the visitors an unexpected lead. However, Poole replied instantly as in their next attack Karim Benssaouda curled a left foot shot around Alan Walker Harris in the Christchurch goal.
The second half saw the Christchurch defence come under extreme pressure as Poole pressed but from a breakaway attack Ben Osborne forced Max Frampton in the Poole goal to save desperately. Eventually it was inevitable that the Christchurch defence would be breached and so it proved when 10 minutes from time substitute Steve Smith gave Poole the lead with a smart finish.
It was a tremendous hard working performance by the Christchurch side against a strong Poole Town side. Surely that first elusive league win for Christchurch cannot be far away.
Christchurch line up:
1 Alan Walker Harris
2 Colin Dand
3 Simon Atkins
4 Dan Crutchley
5 Steve Linpow
6 Lloyd Jenvey (Capt)
7 Dave Midgley
8 Callum Burt
9 Ben Osborne
10 Marc Burrows
11 Paul Rideout
12Dan Marks
14 Martin Lawrence
15 Lewis Till
16 Robbie Woolner
17 Kevin Collins
Goal scorer: Marc Burrows
Images of this match are available to view in the image gallery.
FA Cup 2007/08
Extra Preliminary Round – 18th August 2007
Christchurch FC 6 Aylesbury Vale FC 1
In the words of a song 'Rainy days and Mondays always get me down'. Well it was certainly raining as well as grey, overcast and windy but it definitely was not a Monday and nothing could have kept Christchurch down in this match.
Strong from the start Christchurch opened with a goal from Michael Green within minutes of the kick-off and then kept the pressure on all the way to the end. Aylesbury Vale had their chances but strong defending of the goal area and superb goal keeping kept their efforts down to a single goal.
There were further goals from Marc Burrows, Ben Osborne, Callum Burt and a late goal from substitute Lewis Till.
Man of the Match was given to Christchurch player Marc Burrows after his strong two goal performance.
Images of this match are available to view in the image gallery.
Dorset U18 – Bournemouth Poppies v Christchurch -19th August 2007
Dorset County Youth League Division 1
Sunday 19th August 2007
Bournemouth Poppies v Christchurch
Well, an early start to the season could have gone a lot better!! From a squad of about 22 only had 12 players available!! But still we kicked off and although were under the cosh from the outset, handled ourselves quite well.
It was 15mins in when the deadlock was broken, scrappy defending left us exposed and Joe was left to pick the ball out of the net.
Then the circumstances went from bad to worse, Dom appeared to get slapped from one of their players and so decided he’d kick him!! You can guess what happened, he got sent off!! Great so we’re now down to 10 players!!
It wasn’t long before they grabbed a 2nd goal and as halt-time approached, things got even worse. Ollie pulled up with what seemed like cramp, but ended up concluding he’d pulled/twinged his calf muscle. So had to make a change in the first half and use my only sub!!
Half time: 2-0
Received some good news at the break, Tony was on his way from his family do, so checked with the Referee and the manager of B’mth Poppies to plead whether I could name him late. Both parties agreed!!
Second half started just like the 1st and Poppies grabbed a 3rd goal with a cheeky flick at the near post.
Tony arrived and was kitted up ready to go. Max was struggling from playing in the morning and was about to replace him when Lee pulled up with a tight quad!! So Tony went on for Lee, but that couldn’t stop them from scoring.
Chris Billam-Smith (ex Christchurch player) took the mick out of our defence, with his trickery and quick feet before smashing the ball past Joe for no4.
No.5 followed shortly after, and unfortunately for Ricko, it was an OG!! The ball got put into the box and hit him on the chest rebounding into the net!!
With only injury time to play, Poppies were reduced to 10 men, when one of they’re players (Ben Hatch – a summer target of mine) went into a tackle with Dan with his studs showing. Personally didn’t see it as a straight Red, but nether the less, that was the outcome. Mind you saying to the ref “F*** O** Harry Potter” is not gonna help the situation!!
Final whistle blew and saw the end to a disastrous start to the season!! Lets hope we can bounce back from this!!
Man of the Match: Joe Prodomo
Final Score: Bournemouth Poppies 5-0 Christchurch
Match report by Pete Old