50s: The end of the season is fast approaching

Dexters Storm tournament report by Gary Craig

Storm 1-1 Bournemouth Whites

First up for Storm was Bournemouth Whites. Pre-match we talked about not underestimating The Whites like we had previously. We started the game really well – passing the ball around in the first ten minutes really well, and this led to the opening goal.

Simon “Bakes” Baker found himself forward on the right, he passed back to Darren “Snelly” Snell, who found Luke on the left. Luke passed to Simon who’d stayed forward for his second involvement of the move. Bakes cut it back to Chris Short who in turn squared it to Gary, who got good contact with the ball and Storm were one up after a fantastic team goal.

But, from that point the whole performance changed! We stopped doing the simple stuff and let our opponents grow in confidence, and with just two minutes to go they equalised. That’s how it ended – what started off so well really did become very disappointing.

Storm 1-3 Amesbury

Next up were league leaders Amesbury. The Storm squad were on a mission to put right what had gone wrong in the previous game. But Amesbury, with there 15 man squad, were not going to be easy opponents!

We started the match well again and had a couple of chances early on. Mark (Willaims) had been brought in to man-mark there main threat and he did a fine job, but it’s hard to keep a good team quiet and we soon found ourselves 2-0 down!

Chris (Short) conjured a piece of magic on the edge of Amesbury’s box, when he swivelled onto a loose ball and swept the ball into the net past the unsighted keeper. And just like that we were back in the match. Unfortunately, our lifted hopes didn’t last long and Amesbury hit us with another goal, and saw out the match to win 3-1.

Storm 0-1 Dorchester

So then we took our fragile confidence into the last game of the day against a tricky Dorchester. It was a very even game – a battle of the midfields. Both teams remained solid at the back and the game remained goalless at the break.

We started the second half pushing for the opening goal. Unfortunately, we clocked up four non-walking offences part way through the half! Previously Billy (Bulloch) had bailed us out of previous situations like this many times. But, despite getting something on the ball, it found it’s way over the line and The magpies were 1-0 up.

We were still in it and still battling when Luke challenged for the ball in midfield. He caught the Dorchester player, gave away a foul and received a blue card. A man down and with time running out, we weren’t able to score the goal we so desperately wanted, and the match finished 1-0 to The Magpies.

What started off as promising day ended with bitter disappointment. Storm only have one win in seven matches now, and the wheels have properly come off the title challenge in the last two league tournaments. Only one clean sheet in that seven match run will need to change if a top three place is to be secured.

Dexters Thunder tournament report by Simon Allen

Thunder 1-1 Verwood

The day started confidently for Dexters Thunder, controlling long spells of the first half against Verwood. We went in to the break 1-0 up after Captain Dave (Lodge), scored his third of the season.

Leading at half-time meant we “just” needed to manage the game well – pass it around, hold the ball, take our time, and don’t force it. You get the idea! Unfortunately, we didn’t seem to get it at all – our defending was ragged and our time on the ball was hectic at best!

Incredibly we got to the last minute of the match with our clean sheet still in tact, but then we managed to find the the self-destruct button (again)!

After a couple of minutes looking like we actually knew how to control a game of football, there was a rush of blood to the head, as well as an inexplicable pass across our own box. The Potters’ forward nipped in behind the defence and smashed the ball in off the crossbar past a furious Mark Cope in goal.

There was barely time for us to kick off before the match finished and we’d blown more points in the second half of a match for the eighth time this season!

Thunder 0-2 Bournemouth

This was always going to be a tough match against Bournemouth, the defending double champions. We were doing okay in the early minutes of the game, but then Simon (Allen) picked up an Achilles injury and had to leave the pitch. It was apparent that he’d not be able to play again on the day, with the best part of two matches still to play.

With the team doing their best to hold firm, a soft penalty was given against us. Jase and one of the Bournemouth forwards came together just outside our penalty area. The Cherries player fell dramatically to the floor, winked at Jase, and a penalty and blue card were given! The spot kick was dispatched straight down the middle of the goal and it really was an uphill struggle now.

When it came, Bournemouth’s second goal was so predictable. The ball was at the feet of the player we’d already identified as having a rocket of a shot – we failed to close him down and the ball was resoundingly smashed in past Mark again. There was no coming back from that, and the game remained that way until the end.

Thunder 0-1 Weymouth

This was a tight match from the offset. We played some decent controlled football and the game was goalless at half-time. In the second half we were on top, including a great shot from Jase parried by the ‘keeper.

But then match really opened up, which probably doesn’t suit us just at the moment. Weymouth (inevitably?) found a way through to go one up. With just a few minutes left Nick was denied by the ‘keeper once more after a fantastic move.

During this match Nick picked up a nasty injury on his ankle – he chose to stay on, but really, he shouldn’t have. The injury will keep him out of action for a while, including the final league tournament in mid-April.

Another day of “what could’ve beens” for Dexters Thunder. A win was in reach in the first match, followed by two more games where we were competitive. Everybody gave their all, but with an injury in two consecutive matches, the squads lack of depth really hampered us.