Reserve Team Match Reports by Paul Murphy

HamRecResset out to retain their crown from last season

Under the lights at the Meyson Properties Stadium Ham Rec Res welcomed Sherborne Town Res in our opening game in this seasons Dorset Premier League Cup- 2ndRound. It didn't take the home side long to take the lead, after some great build up play Henry Bowe cut in from the left, rolled the ball into Igor Da Costa on the edge of the Sherborne penalty area, lgor spotted the over lapping run on Henry Barham on the right, he drove into the penalty area, fired a low cross into the near post which was tucked home by Martin Videnov, 1-0. The young striker was on the score sheet again just before half time, the ball this time played in from the midfield into Bryce Banfield, Bryce spotted Martin on the edge of the penalty area, Martin controlled the ball, pivoted and unleashed a curling shot into the top left corner leaving the Sherborne GK no chance, 2-0.

HT2-0

The second half started with Sherborne pressing to get back in the game, they saw a lot of the ball in the initial phase really putting the home side defence under pressure, this paid off for them in the 54" minute, Gavin Haynes already on a yellow card, stretched outa leg to make a tackle, mis-timed his tackle and the ref deemed it a2nd yellow, Ham Rec Res down to 10 men. This inspired Sherborne and they capitalised as the home side tried to settle into their new formation/positions, in 74h min Rec lost the ball on the half way line, the Sherborne left back broke forward, spotted the visitors striker with a great run, slide an inch perfect pass into the strikers feet who took 1 touch and drill a shoot from the edge of the home sides penalty area into the bottom corner, 2-1. Rec did not let this phase them, straight from the kick off, Curits Lane won the home side a corner, Henry Bowe and Elliot Birtwistle took a short corner, Henry whipped in a great cross and it was met in the middle of the goal by a towering header from Lucas Davies who nodded it down into the bottom corner, 3-1. Rec now on the front foot broke down the right, a shot fired in was tipped over by the GK, Henry Bowe stepped up to take the corner, whipped in a great ball to the back post and it sailed passed all Ham Rec players, taking a slight nick off a defender's head on the way in to increase the home sides lead, 4-1. Onto the next round we go against Wimborne Town Res.

Full Time 4-1

Can Hamworthy Rec Res make it 3 wins from3?

Hamworthy Rec Res in their first home game on a Saturday of the season looked to continue their good run of late with 2 wins in 2, can they make it 3? Both sides tried to utilise the blustery conditions, Rec playing into the wind in the first half keeping the ball on the ground, Portland looking to use the wind to assist getting the ball in behind the home sides defence. It took until the 29th min when one of the defences would be breached, and it was well worth the wait!! After an attack down the home sides left, Portland cleared the ball down the middle of the pitch, Gavin Haynes retrieved the ball, spotted Elliot Birtwistle free on the edge of the centre circle in the Portland half and rolled the ball into Elliots path, Elliot turned, with no pressure on him took a touch, spotted the GK off his line and drilled his shot from distance into the top left corner, 1-0. Rec remained on the front foot after in front, on 32 mins Curtis Lane ran the ball into the Portland penalty area from the right wing, the visitors GK came out to close his angle down but Curtis managed to open his body, switch the ball to his left foot and curled the ball around the GK to double the lead, 2-0. This spurred the visitors on, 36 min with Rec pressing for a quick 3rd, Portland caught Rec on the counter, playing the ball down the right the ball was across into the home sides penalty area, Gavin Haynes cleared the ball only for it to be picked up in midfield by a Portland player, the ball way played out to the left, the winger bounced a pass off and a team mate and received it back in the box, drilled it across the penalty area and it was tapped home from close range in the centre of the goal, 2-1.

HT 2-1

The visitors got the second half underway, looking to draw the home side out and get in behind quickly, a ball was played down the Rec left wing, Gavin Haynes won the ball and rolled it back to Felix Bruce in the Rec goal, Felix played a first time long pass up to Rec skipper Bryce Banfield, Bryce flicked the ball forward and Curits Lane anticipating the flick on was quickest to react, beat the Portland defender to the ball, flicked the ball past the out rushing GK who was now out of his box and stranded, the ball ran slightly wide, the defender ran to cover the goal but Curtis kept is composure and tucked the ball home from a tight angle to make it 2 for him on the day. The second half turned into a basketball match but neither side really threatened the other side's goal.

Full Time 3-1

Hamworhy Recreation Res 3 Poole Borough 1
24 September 2025

Hamworthy Rec Res in their changed Blue kit started the game quickly, immediately putting pressure on the Poole Borough back line but their defence stood strong and rode out the initial pressure. The game started too rock backwards and forwards with both teams looking to get the opening goal, both sides having chances but the first goal came from the home side, the ball was played the ball in from the left, Alfie Miller laid it off to Brad Hill who had drifted into the centre who fired the ball past the Borough GK to make it 1-0. The home side weren’t done there, 3 mins later Rec were on the attack again, the ball switched from left to right across the Borough penalty area, Ollie Gomm with an overlapping run collected the ball, he played in Brad Hill who again had drifted inside to create the space, Brad clipped the ball into the box where it was met by Rec left back Henry Bowe who’s glancing header beat the Borough GK to double the home sides lead, 2-0.

HT 2-0

The visitors came out in the second half looking to get back into the game, Rec managed to soak up the initial pressure before applying some themselves, on 64 mins Alfie Miller, making his debut from the U17s, was played in from midfield, he cut in from the left, used the defender as a screen and whipped the ball around the defender and into the bottom right corner, great goal for the young lad in his first game, 3-0. The game at this point started to fizzle out, both side making changes and it was the visitors change that had the most impact, on 82 mins one of their subs was working hard to put pressure on the Rec players, he court one of the Rec players in possession on the edge of the home sides penalty area, took a touch out of his feet and rifled it past the Felix from the edge of the penalty area, 3-1.

Full Time 3-1

Hamworthy Recreaton Reserves v Cobham Sports - 10th September 2025 - Dorset Premier League.
Hamworthy Recreation Reserves welcomed Cobham Sports, not much between the 2 sides, separated by a last-minute set piece.

Rec started off brightly, plenty of possession but no clear chances on goal, both sides were probing but without much action in front of goal. The first real action came in the 20th minute, Rec were building up pressure on the visitors back line and won a corner, Elliot Birtwistle delivered the ball into a dangerous area, Max Wilcock made the first contact and headed the ball goal-wards, it was knocked down only to land at the feet of Recs Capt Bryce Banfield, Bryce pivoted on the spot and crashed the ball home from close range to give the home side and early lead, 1-0. Rec capitised on a miss placed pass from the restart, Brad Hill broke down the win, squared the ball to Max Wilcock who doubled the home sides lead within 2 mins, 2-0. The visitors weren’t going to let the lead get away from them, straight from the restart on 24 mins they won the ball back, Eze-Sunday crossed the ball, and Joe Wood crashed the ball home to bring the visitors back into the game 2-1 Both sides had chances during the remainder of the half, both goalkeepers being called into action but neither of the sides could beat the keepers

HT 2-1

The second half started with Cobham pushing to get back into the game, they piled on the pressure, but the Hamworthy defence held firm. On the hour Cobham went to their bench and made 4 changes to get back into the game. Cobham managed to force several corners from the Hamworthy defence who managed to repel the pressure until the 77th minute, Cobham broke down the wing, a run to the near post by Callum Clarke beat Felix Bruce at his near post to bring the score level, 2-2. Cobham were lifted by their equalising goal and continued to pile on the pressure, Rec got everyone behind the ball to soak up the pressure, Cobham gambled on their height from set pieces, and this paid off in the 87min, Cobham were awarded a corner which was crashed home from close range by Cam Beard, 2-3. With the remaining 10+ minutes Ham Rec pushed to try and get an equaliser but Cobham saw the game out to win the tight encounter.

FT 2-3