First XI v Hatch Warren

Hatch Warren U16 - 0
Bishops Waltham Dynamos U16 - 0
Testway League U16 Division 2
After many weeks of inactivity and only one recent training session, a fixture away at our main rivals for the championship was always going to be a bit of a tester. A rather bleak morning in Basingstoke but some good Dynamos travelling support was much appreciated.. Dynamos kicked off but it was evident from early on that neither team were really match ready. Hatch Warren (HW) had the first attempt on goal with a 25 yard free kick which flew over the bar. Not only were the teams out of practice but the pitch was really short of the green stuff and the ball was rarely running true across it. dynamos were struggling to get the ball to the front men, crosses by Tom B and Sam both finding the keeper instead. Seventeen minutes in and Dynamos first corner, Joe takes, the ball goes deep to the far post and works its way back to Joe again who shoots over. Twenty one minutes in and its HW's first corner but its easily cleared at the near post. Soon after Dynamos create a great opening, firstly Tim's pressure forces a corner, taken by Tom B, there followed a scramble and the ball comes again to Tim who's shot is blocked on the line and cleared. Still the teams toiled hard but only in order to retain possession which was proving very difficult this morning. An HW corner was claimed easily by JT in the Dynamos goal. Next, a long clearance by the HW keeper was missed by the Dynamos defence, HW centre forward was clean through but shoots wide as JT advanced. Dynamos had a good spell in the minutes leading up to half time, some good passing played Joe into a position to cross but once again it's cut out by the keeper. Next move Matt has a good run, beating a couple of defenders and slots the ball through to Tom B who shoots just wide. Half time arrived to liven things up a bit.
HW get us underway again but it's Dynamos who are on the offensive first, Matt wins a free kick Tom B floats ball into the area and its cleared for a corner, Tom B takes but the keeper is there again. Then the game reverted to the pattern of the first period as both teams struggled to retain any kind of possession, eventually HW win a corner and a shot from close range is well cleared off the line by Greg. Dynamos fail to get anywhere forward and back come HW, they win a free kick only a few feet outside the area, it's well taken and looks to be on its way to the top corner until JT flings himself across high to his right to scoop the ball away and Dynamos clear the danger. Tom L comes on for Tim. Dynamos conceded yet another free kick in a dangerous position but this time the ball goes way over the bar. Half and hour into the second half Dynamos have their first shot on target as Joe smashes the ball goalbound but too near the keeper. As the half wore on HW seemed to run out of ideas as well as energy and Dynamos had ten minutes of actual superiority, a good passing move down the left created a chance for Joe but his effort slips wide. Aaron comes on for Matt. Immediately Aaron sets about the HW defence with the enthusiasm of someone coming back from a lengthy ban, he creates his own chance out of nothing but sees his shot roll wide of the far post. A through ball by Sam runs long and as the HW defence try to see it out of play Tom B chases it down and creates himself a chance from a really acute angle but his effort goes right across and out for a goal kick. There was just enough time for Tom B to get booked for trying too hard (probably). The final whistle saved the hardy spectators from having to endure any more.
As far as the result goes this was more than satisfactory for Dynamos, playing well below par and holding on to their undefeated record is an excellent outcome. A great performance in goal by JT kept his team in the game on more than one occasion, everyone else battled well, especially man of the match Tom B.