Christchurch rue missed chances midweek against Poppies
Sydenhams Wessex League
Christchurch FC 0
Bournemouth Poppies 2
CHRISTCHURCH FC created the better chances, but they never found a way past keeper Sam Jones as Bournemouth Poppies won 2-0 at Hurn Bridge on Tuesday.
The first half was a closely contested battle, with Christchurch fashioning good chances. However, Jones repeatedly produced impressive saves to maintain the deadlock.
Poppies opened the scoring through Martin Warren around the hour mark before Ron Frost was sin-binned late on. With the home side pushing forward, Poppies countered and won a late penalty to widen the winning margin.
Christchurch started the match the brighter of the two sides. The contest turned into a midfield battle with the odd foray down the flanks.
The home side went close several times with Ash Pope and Ron Frost having the best chances. The visitors were grateful to keeper Jones when the half-time whistle came with the scores still level.
Poppies improved in the second-half, and they began to threaten the Christchurch goal.
Christchurch almost conceded after a poor kick by the typically superb keeper Lewis Gunstone-Gray which led to Lewis Chambers clattering a shot off the crossbar. Gunstone-Gray went to clear the ball, but Poppies number nine Warren slide in and caught the keeper late. Referee Darren Cooley decided against a probably-warranted red card.
The visitors found the opener when Jack Kinge-Phillips’ cross found the head of Liam House whose header hit the woodwork. The Christchurch stopper got a hand to the ball, but he could only push it into the path of Warren. The striker, who was lucky to be on the pitch, buried the chance without hesitation.
Christchurch came back well, and Max Wilcock had a superb chance to level. Unfortunately, he put the ball wide after mistiming his diving header.
In the dying minutes Ron Frost was sin-binned.
Christchurch pushed men forward, which allowed the visitors to counter and earn a 93rd-minute penalty which Lewis Harvey converted.
Christchurch: L. Gunstone-Grey, E. Chameje, B. Hill, R. Frost, L. Ansell, M. Hubbard, B. Satterley, L. Delaney, W. Fletcher, M. Wilcock, A. Pope. Subs: N. Swann, J. Johnstone, J. Blake, J. Buck, J. Satterley, M. Frampton.
