Velocity Wessex League Premier Division – Tuesday 16th April 2024
Laverstock & Ford 1 (Campbell Smith 78)
Shaftesbury 2 (Beard 10, Pitman 46)
Brett Pitman equalled the Wessex League Premier scoring record with his 55th league goal of the season and ensured an 8th successive win in a row for manager Jim Milligan in a run that started back on March 2nd.
Shaftesbury took the lead after 10 minutes when the home side couldn’t clear and Cam Beard smashed in his 16th goal of the season from the rebound past Alexis Aguer.
Pitman nearly got the golden goal when he connected at the near post forcing Aguer to save with his feet and then had a header cleared off the line as we pressed minutes before that.
Playing a high line it was down to Laverstock skipper to suppress this and he had the best chance drilling a shot in at Shane Murphy yet Davidson and Farrugia were putting themselves in the way of anything that flew into our penalty box with Ash Wells as ever jostling and keep the defensive formation intact.
Pitman had a couple more opportunities with Stuart Green, Dan Bartlett, Eddie Perrett and Satterley all putting in a shift and working hard to quell the home sides pace. Callum Sweeney again doing a great job in midfield.
Certainly Laverstock & Ford have some great players and are a good team to watch. Lots of heart and skill and we dealt with it here tonight as Pitman headed in Ben Satterley’s ball in to match the record a minute into the second half.
Laverstock & Ford manager Liam McConnell had some aces on the bench such as Archie Lovegrove and Russell Jones and played his cards as the home side opened up on us. Jones stung one at our goal which Shane Murphy tipped over the crossbar for a corner.
McConnell had brought on Jacob Rawkins to liven things up with Milligan bringing on Asa Philips, Greg Peel and Tyson Pollard. Peel had a goal ruled out for offside and Laverstock replied when Campbell Smith’s free kick dipped straight into our net.
Philips forced Aguer into a save with a low drive as we went on the attack with Laverstock back in the game which we saw out to earn an eighth straight victory and now face an awkward trip to play off seeking Portland United on Thursday night. Not that anyone would chose yet we hopefully can upset the applecart and put our recent history against them to bed.
Laverstock & Ford – Aguer, Jeffrey, Wakeford, Bourner (Capt), Matthews, Watson, Roberts, Arnold, Bennett, Roach, Campbell Smith
Subs used – Sykes, Roberts, Jones, Fletcher, Lovegrove
Shaftesbury – Murphy, Farrugia, Davidson, Wells, Beard, Bartlett, Sweeney, Pitman, Green, Perrett, Satterley
Subs used – Philips, Peel, Pollard, Bennett
Officials – A.Desroches, M.Thompson, C.Morris
Booked – Davidson (Shaftesbury)
Watson (Laverstock & Ford),
Attendance –
Report – Avril Lancaster 🐌
Photos – Charlie Hansford
Brett Pitman celebrates after his header early in the second half beats Alexis Aguer equalling the Wessex League goal scoring record.
Dynamic duo – Pitman and Cam Beard tonight’s marksman.
Milligan’s mission – the manager leaves the field at Church Road with an 8th straight league win.
