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14/8/10 - League
Portland Utd 2 Hamworthy Recreation 2
A mouth watering opening day fixture was what Rec had to look forward to. Portland are a side always mounting a serious challenge for all competitions so a very tough match was expected. Rec were without Ryan Lucas, Rikki Walden, Scott Bedward, Tom Vavrecka, Ollie Tomsett and Ashley Boyt for the fixture but proved the strength of the squad and the necessity of having a large squad.
The match kicked off with Rec looking the livelier and it was not long before a half chance fell to Mike Notley whose attempted lob from 25 yards was easily gathered by the Portland keeper. The game settled down and it was the hosts who played the better football and looked more dangerous on the attack. That said it was the greens who who had the next chance. Wayne Hole beat his man on the left and found himself bearing down on the Portland goal. Indecision saw him neither pass to Notley for a tap in or shoot himself with the Gloveman gathering the ball.
The visitors were not getting into their rhythm and several players were playing well below par and producing lacklustre performances. Credit must go to Portland as they looked to pass and test the greens defence at every opportunity and at times appeared to have an extra man as their visitors failed to communicate with one another and allowed runners from midfield to break free.
The inevitable breakthrough came for Portland after a strike from the right was parried by Kevin Leonard with the ball falling to Portland’s Nicholas Etherington who tapped home; 1-0. The blues continued to probe but could not score again the half ended with no further score.
Rec came out in the second period with an undoubted mountain to climb and to try to get a grasp on the game. Mark Dykes replaced Sam Hollidge who received a knock and shortly after Jim Osbourne was introduced for Russell Dominey as the Champions looked to get an equalizer.
The tension eventually lifted when Wayne Hole got on the end of a nice through ball from Jamie Moores and cooly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper to level the score; 1-1. With a weight off their shoulders Rec looked sharper but still short of what the players can produce. Portland continued to press in what was an even second half.
A third goal was scored and it was for the visitors. After some good work by Dan Blackburn, Wayne Hole drilled a powerful shot past the Portland gloveman; 1-2. Rec looked to have sneaked 3 points away with them until some very poor and ill disciplined defending allowed Liam Beades to score an equalizer late on; 2-2.
In summary a below par performance but a valuable point. Portland will once again be challenging and before the match Rec would have taken a point (and certainly at half time). A well contested match and the share of the spoils a fair result.
Team
Kevin Leonard
Adam Marsh
Kane Daysh
Nick Plank
Rich Sands
Russell Dominey
Dan Blackburn
Sam Hollidge
Wayne Hole
Jamie Moores
Mike Notley
Substitutes
Mark Dykes (for Hollidge)
Jimmy Osbourne (for Dominey)
Sam Goodwin
Scorers
Hole - 63m & 72m
