Game 16: Stockbridge 1.1 Shaftesbury (WESS 1) 30.08.10

After the Laverstock match I headed home for an hour to get some food and recharge the camera batteries before hitting the A30 and the short drive out to Stockbridge. I couldn't recall if you could still park cars inside the ground now that there is a small stand so I opted for nearby street parking.

As I wandered up the track to the ground I was overtaken by a car and at the entrance it was clear that there was space for a few cars to park but the vehicles are in range of any wayward shots. After paying £4 for admission (including a programme) I found a spot of shade by the goalmouth to watch the game.

I was glad to arrive early to the match as it kicked off five minutes early. Stockbridge came close to a goal after 3 minutes, a good cross from the right almost finding the head of a diving player. Two minutes later and they came even closer - a shot hit the crossbar, bounced down and was cleared from the line by a Shaftesbury defender. Despite some protests from the 'Robins' players that the ball had gone over the line, the referee allowed play to continue. The assistant referee on the far side was well placed and his flag didn't move.

Stockbridge finally took the lead in the 25th minute. A long freekick was headed back towards the left hand post and tapped in before the keeper could react.

Shaftesbury almost equalised a minute later. A cross from the far side went over the keeper at his near post and almost ended up in the net. A covering Stockbridge defender had to be careful not to hit the swerving ball into his own net.

Shaftesbury's defence was under a lot of pressure and only a last ditch tackle stopped a Stockbridge shot from flying past the keeper. In the 40th minute another goal mouth clearance saved the day for the visitors as a header was deftly played past the goalkeeper. The ball didn't have enough pace on it to go over the line, allowing the defence to clear.

Shaftesbury made a couple of substitutions early in the second half to try and get something from the game. In the 62nd minute they created a good chance from a freekick. The ball bounced in the area and sat up well for a shot but it was blasted high over the bar. Stockbridge countered and only the offside flag prevented a second goal a minute later.

Shaftesbury certainly looked like the better team in the second half, similar to the way that Fawley had come back against Laverstock in the earlier game. Stockbridge's keeper had to be called into action several times as a sweeper to clear balls that had gone over the back line before Shaftesbury players could reach them.

Stockbridge were conceding far too many free kicks in and around their area for their manager's liking. I was impressed with one of the Shaftesbury wingers who was the smallest player on the pitch but used a good touch and turn of pace both to create chances but also draw the fouls. Shaftesbury weren't making the most of these chances as balls were either kicked into the wall or high above the crossbar.

Stockbridge were denied by the offside flag again in the 74th minute. A shot was parried out of the six yard box by the Shaftesbury keeper but the player who received the ball from the subsequent pass was adjudged to be offside before he hit the ball in.

It looked like Shaftesbury's efforts would be in vain but in the 89th minute they grabbed a late equaliser. The ball was played low to the feet of one of their players just outside the area. He evaded a tackle and played a great through ball for the winger who hit a rising first time shot past the Stockbridge keeper at his near post.