Amesbury Town (0) 2 v Romsey Town (0) 3

A revitalised second-half display saw Romsey Town triumph by the odd goal in five at Amesbury Town last Saturday and move up to seventh in the table, in a match that burst into to life after a goalless and lacklustre first 45 minutes.

A makeshift Romsey side, missing seven first-team squad players, initially played second fiddle to a very physical Amesbury Town and though the hosts created few clearcut chances, Romsey were the happier to reach the break with the game still goalless. However, a brace of goals from Josh Gibson and a debut strike from Joshua Bowerman ensured the Bypass Boys left Wiltshire with all three points and a third consecutive victory in the League, writes Tony Galsworthy.

Amesbury gained the upper hand after an evenly contested opening, but despite winning corners in quick succession they were unable to capitalise and were frequently caught offside. Both sides were guilty of squandering possession and playing the long ball game in a scrappy affair, which took Romsey until the half-hour mark to register their first shot on target, a tame effort from Rukky Diejomaoh.                                                                      

Town started the second half in a much brighter mood befitting the warm autumn sunshine that bathed Bonnymead Park. Josh Gibson fired Romsey ahead in the 57th minute when he chested down a through ball from Charlie Hewson and steered a shot past the onrushing ‘keeper. Vociferous protests by the hosts of handball were waved aside by the referee and were soon forgotten by the Blues who were on level terms just four minutes later. An inswinging corner to the near post was hooked into the net by Harvey from just two yards with Town’s defence static. The hosts stepped up the pressure and Miles Bartram had to make a good save with his feet at the near post to deny Morris before he palmed a shot from Harvey around the post

In a move that quickly paid dividends, Town boss Andy Samuels brought on Zach Earley and Joshua Bowerman from the bench. Shortly after the tireless Gibson won the ball in midfield then fed Bowerman who advanced on goal and from the edge of the penalty area, he deftly chipped the ball over the ‘keeper to restore his side's lead in the 74th minute. A fine debut goal from the substitute and just two minutes later Gibson emulated his teammate when he produced another outrageous lob from distance that crept into the net via the post, despite a defender’s vain efforts to reach it, to give Town a 3-1 lead.

With the points seemingly secured, there was another twist in store as straight from the restart a long ball from Amesbury’s defence dropped over the shoulder of Walsh and he fired a half volley from the edge of the box beyond Bartram and into the net to set up a nerve-jangling finale for Town’s travelling fans. After three goals in four minutes, the game continued to flow from end to end, as the hosts sought an equaliser and Romsey tried to hit them on the counterattack before the referee blew the final whistle. Romsey will seek to extend their winning streak tomorrow when they welcome Ash United to The AEC Protection Ground (ko 3.00pm). The visitors have lost all four of their away league games and sit 19th in the table. Next Tuesday evening (ko 7.45pm), Town travel to East Cowes Victoria in a rearranged Division One fixture.