Match Report Saturday 17th October
Sherborne Town FC 0 - 1 Laverstock & Ford
Wessex League
Sherborne Town 0 Laverstock & Ford 1
The locals have not had much to cheer about at the Nuova Italia Arena this season, but matters were looking up earlier in the week when the reserves chalked up their first home win of the season, followed 24 hours later by a victory for the Under 18s.
Sadly the first team were unable to maintain the trend, but as always they grafted right up to the final whistle against a team in the mix for the play-offs. Moreover, the goal that separated the two sides was gained in controversial circumstances - more on that shortly.
The Zebras defence was bolstered by the return of skipper Josh Williams and Aaron White, while striker Alex Murphy, absent for the last two games, was on the bench. Unfortunately Dec Cornish could only watch from the sidelines, no thanks to a broken toe sustained playing for the reserves in midweek. He was joined by wide receivers Ollie Hebbard and Ash Guppy, two others nursing knocks.
Playing towards the Castle End, Zebras began brightly. In the first minute Billy Mullins sprayed the ball across field to Archie Bryce who in turn found Ant Herrin in attacking mode. Spotting visiting keeper Kai Storr off his line, Herrin tried an audacious lob but got too much elevation on the flight path.
In the sixth minute the Bulldogs bared their teeth and Archie Lovegrove rifled a shot wide.
Zebras responded with Bryce meeting a centre on the volley, sending the ball across the goalmouth but just out of reach of Liam Nardiello.
Then came the defining moment of the game, what turned out to be Lavvy's match-winner in the 12th minute. Awarded a free-kick midway in Sherborne's half, the visitors didn't wait for the 'ok' from referee Ian Hill, and got the ball in motion immediately while Zebras were getting into position. In a flash Cam Roach passed across the goalmouth to Lovegrove who casually stabbed the ball beyond Jack Marshall and into the net. So much for 'play to the whistle'.
We move on. Zebras were awarded their first corner in the 17th minute but Bryce's low delivery failed to get beyond the first defender.
At the other end an agricultural swipe from Rich Cooper's boot sent the ball into orbit. Kane O'Keefe did rather better with his effort but Marshall saved comfortably.
On a bobbly surface both teams resorted to rugby style 'Garryowens' which wasn't great viewing for the punters. Tommy Gaylard swapped wings with Bryce and did see a bit more of the ball on the right side, but sometimes in defensive mode. Tracking back, he was spotted tackling the Lavvy left-winger deep in Zebras territory.
A patchy first half ended with a Lavvy free-kick, headed out by Henry Lawrence-Napier to a yellow-shirted player who leathered the ball wildly over the bar.
Half-time 0-1.
The Bulldogs made a change during the break, TJ Moseley replacing Cooper. Meanwhile Zebras' No 9 Murphy - or on this occasion No 19 - was soon seen warming up on the touchline.
When the hosts keep their intensity high and play quickly and accurately they look dangerous. Like when a swift diagonal run from White ended with a threaded pass to Gaylard who proceeded to turn Fin Roberts inside out. Alas, when the ball was eventually crossed into the box it was hacked upfield.
On 50 minutes Herrin forced a corner which, when delivered by himself, was met with a thumping header from Mullins but high and wide of the target.
At the other end Carson Arnold played a neat 1-2 in the box but his finishing effort was kept out by Marshall who had narrowed the angle. White then made a crucial block. The danger wasn't over and when the ball was squared at the second attempt Billy Campbell-Smith was presented with a scoring opportunity only to squander it, blasting wide.
With a doff of the cap to Zebras' three-pronged attack comprising the Gaylard, Nardiello and Bryce, the fresh-faced trio of whippets were in a catchweight contest against three slavering Bulldogs. When Murphy was sent on in the 55th minute his presence added much-needed physicality up front.
Zebras pushed on. White's cross-field pass was adroitly controlled by Gaylard, who in the next motion drilled an angled drive which fizzed across the goalmouth but just wide of the far post.
Lavvy countered swiftly and, but for a timely tackle by Lawrence-Napier, would have been through on goal.
Back came the hosts. In the 65th minute there did not seem to be much on for Murphy when he received the ball on the edge of the penalty area with two defenders breathing down his neck. However, wriggling free of a pocket, he launched a low shot which was only parried by Storr into the path of Gaylard. Fortunately for the visitors a defender managed to block the follow-up.
Joe Crisp then delivered a swirling cross from the right which floated over Storr's head, requiring a desperate clearance from Harvey Roberts under his own cross-bar.
On 70 minutes Jake Graziano did brilliantly to dispossess Arnold as danger loomed on the counter. When the Bulldog retaliated with a foul which wasn't given, Lavvy went back on the attack Moseley lashing in a shot which took a deflection off Williams and over the bar.
White, ever keen to assist the front men, was involved in most home attacks. The full-back forced a corner which was close to being flicked on at the near post by Lawrence-Napier.
Another corner, courtesy of Murphy's endeavours down the left wing, was almost bundled in at the back stick by the ubiquitous White.
On 80 minutes Ollie Crisp whipped in a free-kick into a crowded penalty area which Storr called for but got nowhere near claiming. The ball was flicked over the flapping keeper who was lucky to have team-mate Roberts covering on the line. The defender made two blocks, the second one denying White's close-range shot at the foot of the post with a last-ditch lunge.
As Zebras continued to press for an equaliser, holes appeared at the back and Lavvy substitute Chae Sykes got in on the act but his powder-puff shot was easily smothered by Marshall. Arnold then blazed over the bar.
Zebras had limited attacking options on the bench and when Gaylard was withdrawn six minutes from time he was replaced by a defender.
It was last-chance saloon in stoppage-time when White crossed into the danger zone but neither Murphy nor Williams, challenging for the same ball, were able to make a decent contact.
So, Zebras remain winless at home in the league, and have been unable to hit the back of the net in their last four matches. A little defter in moments of execution is the key.
They now have a big chance to stop the rot under lights against Bournemouth Poppies, whose only league win this season came back in August against bottom club Christchurch. As the chairman would say, keep the faith.
Team: Marshall, Graziano, White, Lawrence-Napier, Williams, Mullins (McCabe 82), Gaylard (Ansell 84), J Crisp, Nardiello (O Crisp 74), Herrin, Bryce (Murphy 55). Sub not used: Parker (gk).
Attendance: 140.
Man-of-the-match: Lawrence-Napier.