Match Report Saturday 15th August
Sherborne Town FC 1 - 3 Petersfield Town
Wessex League
Sherborne Town 1 Petersfield Town 3
Congratulations Luke. Just wish you had invited me to the wedding.
It would have saved me the trauma of watching three points disappear down the swanny. On the hour mark at the Nuova Italia Arena, Zebras were a goal up and in control. However, wholesale changes off the bench seem to stall the momentum and the last 20 minutes would have been horrible viewing for the newly-wed manager.
Petersfield's preparation wasn't ideal. Travel problems resulted in a four-hour journey from Hampshire, pushing the kick-off time back to 3:18.
After a nondescript opening 10 minutes on the dustbowl surface, Zebras created the first chance. Josh Williams headed a corner across the goalmouth and Josh Ansell's fierce drive from 12 yards was blocked in a crowded area.
The hosts went even closer on 18 minutes when Aaron White met Duncan McCabe's free-kick at the back stick but his side-footed effort was cleared near the goal line.
Zebras were enjoying plenty of success down the right channel. Alex Murphy forced a corner after proving too strong for the Rams' full-back and from Ant Herrin's delivery the ball almost ended up in the net. Williams' stooping header wasn't gathered cleanly by keeper Riley Garrett and in the ensuing scramble the ball rebounded off an upright.
Joe Crisp was next to make inroads on the right flank but he was unable to find Murphy with his cut-back.
A goal had been coming and it duly arrived in the 35th minute. A slack pass out of the Rams defence was intercepted and Herrin whisked the ball out left to an unmarked Ollie Crisp. Cutting inside 'Crisp The Elder' fired a shot towards the top corner from 12 yards. Garrett got both hands to the ball but could only help it over the line and off the stanchion via a defender's head.
The Rams only mustered one shot on target in the first half, and it was launched straight at Jack Marshall's midriff.
Half-time 1-0.
Zebras, attacking the Clubhouse End, began the second period where they left off the first. Murphy, having robbed Harry Close down the right wing, crossed to Herrin who tried a spectacular volley but couldn't keep the ball down to goal-frame level.
On 49 minutes Joe Crisp did well to force a corner which, when whipped over, caused a degree of chaos in the Rams' six-yard box. However, the ball fell kindly for a defender to hoof clear.
Two minutes later, following a free-kick pumped into the box, Williams made space for a shot from 14 yards which was saved flamboyantly at full stretch by Garrett. Zebras soon won another corner, Garrett flapped at it, but Williams' effort beyond the back post was fired into the ground and ended up in the side-netting.
Zebras continued to strive for that all-important second goal and came so close to achieving it in the 58th minute. Ollie Crisp's superb right-wing centre reached Ollie Hebbard unmarked at the back post but the substitute's header was beaten away by Garrett flinging himself to his right. Soon after a promising run by Hebbard, set free by Herrin's slide-rule pass, was thwarted by Garrett at the near post. A comment on Facebook by a Petersfield fan which read "they (Sherborne) barely came out after half-time" was a trifle harsh. The visiting goalkeeper may have begged to differ.
But then a hydration break on 65 minutes upset the flow. Substitutions were made and the whole complexion of the game changed. Within four minutes Rams forced a corner, the ball was flicked on to the back post and Jean-Pierre Alexander was on hand to sweep home the equaliser. That deft finish turned the tide and worse was to come for the hosts on 81 minutes when a back-pass sold Marshall short and George Bowerman rolled the ball into an empty net.
While the manager tied the knot, Petersfield tightened the noose. Five minutes later JP Alexander smashed home a third and a stunned home support were left scratching their heads.
Team: Marshall, White, Graziano (Watson 63), Ansell, Williams, McCabe (Mullins 85), J Crisp (Cornish 63), Bryce (Hebbard 43), Murphy, Herrin, O Crisp (Nardiello 63).
Goal: O Crisp (35).
Booked: McCabe.
Attendance: 122.