U16 Matches

Liphook were away at Hartley Wintney this week, in their penultimate league match of the season. Liphook were under pressure from the start with Hartley forwards managing to find their way around Liphook's defence running onto the long-ball. During a concerted attack in the third minute of the game, defender Borowiak tried to clear a crossed ball, but unfortunately it ended up in the net to give Hartley a 1-0 head-start. Liphook regained their composure and started to create their own chances, but found it hard to break through Hartley's defences until the 27th minute when Mark Bowler collected a through ball and ran onto and around the keeper to calmly put the ball in the net. The first half ended at 1-1 which left all to play for in the second half.

Both teams had spells of persistent attacks during the second half, but with Liphook's keeper Scott Sillence managing to keep the ball out on a number of occasions with some excellent saves and what looked like Liphook's second goal from Bowler not being given (the ball was judged not to have crossed the line), the game ended as a 1-1 draw.
With just one more game to play, Liphook are currently 2nd place in Division 1 and only need 1 more point to secure the runners-up position this season

Man-of-the match was awarded to Scott Sillence in goal and Tom Farr & Michael Borowiak in defence.

Liphook played Farnham Town Blues at home this week. Liphook looked comfortable on the ball from the start with good passing, but could not afford to let their concentration slip for a capable Farnham side to upset their flow. It took nearly half an hour before McGrath opened up the scoring after running onto a through ball from Farr in defence. Just before half-time, Gravelle put Bowler through on the right who scored Liphook's second with a low driven shot.

Shortly after the restart, Farnham won a free-kick on the edge of Liphook's penalty area which was particularly well taken with the curving shot into the far side of the goal. At 2-1 up, Liphook did not want to start conceding any more goals and their resolve paid off in the last 20 minutes of the game when McGrath scored his second with a low driven left-footed shot and his third for a hat-trick when Bowler cut back an excellent cross for a tap-in.
A well deserved 4-1 victory for Liphook this week that will keep them in second place with only two more games to play.

Man-of-the match was shared between Glen McGrath in attack, Tom Farr in defence and Toby White in mid-field.

Liphook faced second placed Mytchett at home this week in a closely fought game. There was end to end football from the start with both teams creating chances, but whilst Liphook's best chances during the first half came from two shots that both hit the underside of the bar and rebound down, the ball was adjudged to not completely cross the line on both occasions and the score remained 0-0 at half-time.

Liphook played well in the second half with some good ball possession and passing with the defensive line holding Mytchett's attacks at bay. Neither team however, could break the deadlock and the game looked set for a 0-0 draw, but Liphook slipped up when an unmarked Mytchett forward ran onto a ball crossed from wide right to slot the ball into the net to score the winning goal in the last minute of the game! A disappointing result for Liphook who looked to come away with at least 1 point.

Man-of-the match was awarded to Michael Borowiak in defence and Glen McGrath & Mark Bowler in attack.

Liphook played Sandhurst away this week in a match they needed to win if they had any hope of winning the Division 1 championship this season. Both teams knew what this game meant for their season, but Sandhurst started looking the sharper team, closing Liphook down every time they had the ball. After some persistent pressure on Liphook's defences, Sandhurst scored their first goal in the 12th minute. Liphook had some better spells and managed to pull back to 1-1 after a poor goal-kick was met by a lucky return shot from Mark Bowler that went straight back into their net. Shortly after this, Sandhurst won a free-kick on the edge of Liphook's penalty area which was taken well with a placed shot that ended in the net to give Sandhurst a 2-1 lead upto half-time.
Liphook looked to be playing well, but the strength of Sandhurst was telling and during a short spell after the re-start of the second half, they scored two more goals in quick succession. Liphook battled hard for the rest of the game and did not concede any further goals and made headway towards Sandhurst's goal, but could not break down their defences enough to score any further goals.
A disappointing result for Liphook, but a very strong opposition for them this week.

Liphook played Farnham Town Clarets away this week. Liphook looked comfortable from the start and were controlling much of game. After 14 minutes, Mark Bowler made a run on goal from the left to score Liphook's first from close range.
9 minutes later, Bowler ran a similar path across the goal mouth and cut the ball back past the keeper and into the net for Liphook's second. At 2-0 up, Liphook looked set to for a good win, but as the game progressed Clarets battled hard to win the ball and push forward, and took full advantage of a poorly cleared Liphook ball from the box which was shot straight back into the net for Clarets' first. Liphook's defence was holding out well, but shortly before half-time a Clarets shot from 25 yards hit the bar and rebounded down to cross the goal-line to bring the score level at 2-2.

The second half saw Liphook's determination providing more opportunities to attack, within 4 minutes Liphook re-took the lead when Simon Finlayson headed the ball in from an excellent Stuart Young cross. Liphook were containing Clarets well and sealed the game when Mark Bowler scored another goal to make his hat-trick after he took the ball well turned and shot at goal.

This is Liphook's 7th win in succession and puts them 6 points clear at the top of division 1. Next week they face an important game against Sandhurst who, if they were to win their outstanding games, are the only team that can catch up with Liphook at present.

Man-of-the match was awarded to Mark Bowler in attack, and Toby White & Ian Jeffery in mid-field.

Liphook played Haslemere at home in a closely fought game this week. Liphook were playing a good passing game but couldn't find their finishing touch to score during the first half whilst Haslemere threatened on more than one occasion, but Scott Sillence in goal stood firm and kept out any shots on target.

Liphook started the second half immediately with some confident passing which finished with Bowley putting the ball through to Bowler who deftly placed the ball past the keeper to give Liphook a 1-0 lead just 1 minute from the re-start.
Liphook's confidence grew throughout the second half and found more scoring chances coming their way as they turned up the pressure on Haslemere. The visitors defended well under Liphook's more attacking play, but following a well crossed ball from Leighton Lane, Toby White found he was in the right place after a goal mouth scramble to score Liphook's second.
Haslemere tried desperately to play the ball forward, but again Liphook's defence held out well and the game ended with Liphook winning 2-0.

Man-of-the match was awarded to Liam Bowley in defence and Toby White in mid-field.
Scorers Bowler - 1; White - 1

Liphook Utd played at home to Fleet Town this week. Liphook struggled from the start as Fleet piled on the pressure with constant attacks during the first half. Liphook's defence had to work overtime to try and keep Fleet out and when their forwards did manage to break through and shoot, it was only the superb keeping from Sillence in goal that kept the game from going Fleet's way. Several times Fleet came close to scoring, most notably in the 26th minute when a goal bound shot was tipped over the bar by Sillence. Liphook reached half-time without conceding a goal when they could easily have been 3 or 4 down if not for the saves of their goalie.
Liphook picked up their game in the second half and whilst still having to work hard to defend they were finding their way towards Fleet's goal. It was in the 27th minute of the second half that the dead-lock was broken when a 25 yard free-kick from Mark Bowler hit the bar and the follow up scramble in the goal mouth led to Simon Finlayson scoring Liphook's first. The game was still to play for by both teams in the last stages of the game, but Liphook managed to play their best football of the game in the last ten minutes which led to a second decisive goal from Mark Bowler when he ran onto goal from the left and scored from a narrow angle with just 3 minutes to the whistle. Liphook won 2-0 and took the 3 points, but had to work hard this week to keep an attacking Fleet at bay.

Another good win this week that keeps Liphook Utd top of Div 1.
Man-of-the match was awarded to Scott Sillence in goal and Michael Borowiak in defence.

5th December

LIPHOOK UTD 2 - 1 ALTON UNITED

Liphook Utd played away at Alton Utd after playing them at home last week when they won 5-2. This week was a different game when an enlightened Alton Utd worked hard to contain Liphook's forwards with some success. Alton's forwards threatened from the start and stunned Liphook after only 6 minutes when a long range shot caught their stand-in goalie off his line and scored the opening goal. Liphook Utd were playing well with good passing, but Alton managed to contain many of their attacking moves. Young came close to equalising after 20 minutes when he hit the bar and had another shot saved later in the half, but Alton also had further chances that required Ian Jeffery (in goal for Liphook's regular keeper who is injured this week) to make some good saves and keep the score at 1-0 at half-time.
Liphook continued to play well in the second half, but found it hard to find the goal. After a spell of good pressure from Liphook, a Stuart Young pass found Mark Bowler on the edge of the box whose shot on goal cleared the defenders and keeper to score Liphook's equaliser after 14 minutes into the half. At 1-1, both teams played with a determination where both wanted to win and neither wanted to lose. On balance, Liphook had the more chances, but just as the game looked like it was going to finish 1-1, Glen McGrath struck the ball from a Stuart Young corner to score the winner for Liphook in the last minutes of the game. Another good win this week that keeps Liphook Utd top of Div 1.
Man-of-the match was awarded to Ian Jeffery in goal and Sam Oliver in defence.

Scorers Bowler - 1; McGrath - 1

28th November

LIPHOOK UTD 5 - 2 ALTON UNITED

Liphook gained another valuable 3 points this week when they played Alton United at home. Liphook maintained steady pressure from the start giving little away to Alton. Liphook's Mark Bowler gave Alton's defenders a difficult time with his fast pace, which paid off with his first goal after 15 minutes. Ten minutes later, Finlayson played a ball out wide to Bowler who scored Liphook's second from a narrow angle. Alton tried to penetrate Liphook's defence, but defenders Borowiak (capt.), Farr, Bowley and Oliver kept them at bay to leave the score 2-0 at half time.

The second half started with both teams keeping a tight defence, but Bowler swept through after 15 minutes to score Liphook's third and his hat-trick. Alton were then awarded a penalty which was well taken to pull one back for the visitors. Within a minute of the penalty, one of Alton's fast forwards broke through to score their second. Liphook managed to contain Alton's revitalised game, and normal service was resumed 4 minutes later when Bowler swept past the keeper to slot the ball in for his forth goal. Liphook looked the stronger side for the remainder of the game and it was Bowler again who scored Liphook's fifth and final goal of the game to give Liphook a 5-2 victory.
Another excellent performance by the whole team, with man-of-the-match shared between Mark Bowler in attack, Michael Borowiak in defence and Ian Jeffery in mid-field.

Scorers Bowler - 5

21st November

LIPHOOK UTD 3 - 1 FARNHAM TOWN BLUES

Liphook UTD met Mytchett Athletic away this week who had overtaken them in Division 1 after last week's narrow defeat by Sandhurst.

Both teams started strongly but Mytchett were making more of an impact on their attacks than Liphook. After 13 minutes Mytchett struck with a stunning power shot from just outside the penalty area to put them 1-0 up. Liphook continued to work hard which paid off in the 33rd minute when Holden set Young up on the edge of the box who scored with a well struck shot to make it 1-1.

Liphook started the second half the stronger team, keeping Mytchett on the defensive, but as the game progressed the game could have gone either way. It was not until the last moments of the game that the outcome was decided when Mytchett conceded a free-kick 25 yard out, Jeffery's took the kick which forced a good save from their keeper, but the parried-out ball was followed up by Young who slotted the ball in from a narrow angle to win the game 2-1 for Liphook. An excellent performance from Liphook this week to put them back into second place, with man-of-the-match awarded to Borowiak in defense, Holden in mid-field and Young for his mid-field attacking role.

It was 1st place against 2nd place this week when Liphook faced current division leaders Sandhurst Town on a pitch only bordering playable condition after all the recent rain. Liphook played well and dominated most of the match with good possession, but found it hard to break through the Sandhurst defence. Time after time Liphook's forwards tried to get shots in on goal, but the oppositions' fast defenders always closed them down denying any real goal scoring chances.
Sandhurst did not appear to be a real threat, but on one of their attacks a very well taken 20 yd shot from their right wing found the net 20 minutes into the game. Liphook came close on several break-throughs in the second half, but to no avail and the game ended in a 1-0 defeat this week.

Man of the match was awarded to goal-keeper Sillence and defender Borowiak this week.

Liphook Utd visited Farnham Town Clarets in the first round of the League cup this week.

Liphook started well with good ball possession and their attackers gave Farnham's defence plenty of work to do, but it was mid-fielder Ian Jeffery who scored the first goal after 6 minutes when a long range shot looked like it had been saved by the keeper, but slid through his hands into the net. Liphook worked hard for the rest of the half but Farnham Town held out to keep the score at 1-0 up to the break.

The second half saw almost a new Farnham team starting after making 5 substitutions. The fresh legs had immediate impact as Liphook's defence came under almost constant pressure from their fast forwards, within minutes of the re-start Farnham broke through to score the equaliser. Liphook tried to counter Farnham's renewed strength and managed to score a goal that was instantly disallowed for off-side. 10 minutes later, Farnham scored their second with another break through defence. At 2-1 down and 30 minutes to go, Liphook needed another goal to stay in with a chance. For most of the remaining time Liphook had to defend against the stronger Farnham side, but in the last 10 minutes Liphook stepped up their game and began striking at Farnham's goal.
With time running out, Liphook struck with shots narrowly going wide and one where the ball rebounded out from the underside of the bar. Unfortunately for Liphook, the whistle blew at probably their best period of sustained attacking play of the game today, losing the match 2-1.
Man-of-the-match was awarded to Michael Borowiak in defence and Toby White in mid-field.

Scorers: JEFFERY - 1

LIPHOOK UTD 4 - 2 HASLEMERE TOWN

Liphook Utd played a competent game against Haslemere away this week. Liphook's McGrath and Finlayson linked up well in attack and put Haslemere's defense under much pressure, in the 10th minute after several close shots on goal, Finlayson put McGrath through to score Liphook's first. The second came 20 minutes later when Finlayson shot across the goal hitting the far post, but McGrath followed in to score from the rebound. Haslemere came close on a number of occasions, hitting the bar and shooting just wide, but managed to pull one back just before half-time.

Liphook failed to keep their concentration at the start of the second-half and conceded a second goal within minutes. Both teams continued to threaten with end to end attacks, but it was Liphook in the 57th minute who scored next when defender Farr back-headed the ball from a well taken corner by Gravelle. Liphook finished off with a solid end to the game when McGrath crossed to Finlayson who had time to control and shoot the ball into the net with force.
An excellent 4-2 win for Liphook this week to give them their first points of the season.

Man-of-the-match awarded jointly to E Gravelle and T Farr

LIPHOOK UTD (U16's) 2 - 3 HARTLEY WINTNEY YOUTH

Liphook Utd kicked off their first game of the season at home against Hartley Wintney this weekend. Liphook found themselves up against a strong team playing a good passing game which kept Liphook's defence busy and called upon goal-keeper Sillence to make some good saves. It was not all one way and Liphook's McGrath and Finlayson in attack tested to opposition goalie on a number of occasions, but by half-time neither side could claim a goal. The dead-lock continued in the second half until a superb chipped ball from White was picked up by McGrath who promptly scored Liphook's first. Ten minutes later, Liphook scored their second when Finlayson turned the ball into the net from a corner. Liphook were looking good for victory in their first game of the season, but Hartley Wintney stepped up their game when their keeper was brought out onto the pitch and promptly lead to them scoring 3 goals in succession over the next 8 minutes of the game. Liphook managed to contain Hartley Wintney for the rest of the game and came close to equalising on the attack, but unfortunately time ran out and the game ended in defeat for Liphook.

Scorers: McGRATH - 1, FINLAYSON - 1