Chandlers Ford Youth 5-1 Warsash Wasps
Mid Solent Under 15 B – 17th January 2009
Line up: Kelvin Bagot, Josh Harrigan ©, Michael Sawbridge, Jake Beattie, David Smith, Liam Godfrey, Tom Ashton, Zak Pickett, David Bromhead, Michael Wall, Jozef Montigue.
Subs: Kane Kellaway, Ryan Chinn, Miles Hodge, Ahmed Sfagsi.
Chandlers Ford were up against the only side to have beaten them in the league this season – Warsash Wasps. The last time these two sides met the Wasps won by a single goal in a high-scoring 5-4 game.
Richard was boosted by the return of Michael Sawbridge from suspension, who came straight back into the heart of defence and led typically well as if he hadn't been away. However Daryl Winter was missing as he has suffered an injury set back and it is feared that the left-sided player could be out for the remainder of the season.
Opting for a 3-1-4-2 formation, Ford looked to attack from the offset.
Michael Wall finally broke the deadlock when played through down the middle before slotting away his fifteenth goal of the season with a cool finish slipping the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.
The first half was a tense battle between two seemingly even-matched sides despite what the league table says on paper.
Sawbridge had an opportunity at the end of the first half from a free kick close to the corner flag on the far side. Despite the tight angle, Michael went for goal and came close as his effort clattered into the side netting.
HALF TIME: CFY 1-0 Warsash Wasps
Almost immediately after the re-start, the visitors drew level. CFY completely switched off from a corner kick and watched as the ball flew across the six-yard box to an unmarked centre forward at the far post who stabbed home, surprised and thankful for the space he was given.
This goal sparked Chandlers Ford into action and they got back to playing some decent football.
Tom Ashton was instrumental as ever in the centre of midfield and sprayed the ball around well. David Smith and Ahmed Sfagsi didn't stop running as they both provided solid protection to the defence with whole-hearted performances.
The Blues restored the lead when Jozef Montigue bravely met the ball at the edge of the area and rode two challenges from both goalkeeper and defender to get his boot to the ball first and managed to pick out the top left hand corner. This was his tenth goal of the season in fifteen games.
Chandlers Ford perhaps had the better chances but were kept in the game by saves from Kelvin and then Kane Kellaway who came on to keep a clean sheet. Warsash had the ball in the back of the net but the flag went up for offside and this let off saw Ford up their game to try and kill the game off.
David Bromhead and Michael Wall had the better of the chances but still the hosts couldn't make it count as the Wasps held on.
The game could have gone either way with the scores poised at 2-1, that is until a masterful substitution made sure the three points were going CFY's way.
Miles Hodge more than changed the game in the final five minutes making a dramatic impression by scoring a crucial third goal, his first for the club, before going on to set Ford up for a comfortable victory by playing Michael Wall through for his second of the game with a fine assist.
Joe forced a great save out of the goalkeeper with a powerful close range effort that was pushed out, bobbled off Liam and fell to Miles who was in the right place at the right time to charge in and slam home. Cue the celebrations! Sawbridge was so delighted that he ran half the length of the pitch to wrestle Miles to the ground.
Miles was not finished there just yet, oh no. Showing composure, he brought the ball down well before splitting Warsash in two with a killer ball. Michael Wall raced through and slotted home goal number four to continue his record of better than a goal a game.
Richard's side went on to win the game 5-1, with a third goal in a breathtaking three minutes that saw CFY boost their goal difference and more importantly extend their lead at the top of the Mid Solent Under 15 B division by four points.
Liam Godfrey completed the rout with a classy lob over the keeper with virtually the last kick of the game.
FULL TIME: CFY 5-1 Warsash Wasps
Man of the match: David Smith
