Canford United gained their first league point to get their season off and running with a rousing comeback at home to Wareham Rangers Reserves. Having trailed 3-1 with just 9 minutes remaining, Sam Fields scored 2 late goals to bring the game back to 3-3 and see Canford take a share of the spoils and once again show the team spirit and determination of this young but hard working and improving squad.
There was little between the 2 teams in the opening stages of the game with Canford working hard to get the ball but perhaps guilty of giving it away too easily and not having enough quality going forward whilst the improving defence took their hard work from training into this game being much more determined to attack the ball in the air and communicate better. Wareham took the lead after a long ball saw Craig Warren come across to try and cover from left back but his last ditch tackle just caught the man and the visitors converted the penalty. Canford didn't really get going in the first half and didn't trouble the Wareham keeper too often, and the visitors doubled their lead when a man was left free to fire home. A quick rejig saw Cam Milne go into centre midfield and his work rate sparked Canford into life as they tried to find a way back into the game. Sam Fields produced a great cross field ball that Connor Wright just about got to but was unable to convert however he did get his first league goal for the senior team just a few minutes when an attack began with Lezer bursting forward and his ball put Webby into space down the left and his cross picked out Connor who converted at the far post. Although Canford hadn't had a great half, they knew that if they could get to half time just a goal behind then they were still in the game . They were grateful to Connor again, as right on the stroke of half time he made a great header off the line which looked like it was looping into the top corner.
The managers demanded more passion in the 2nd half, and Canford started the half well with Lezer firing over left footed after some good work from Kinger and Connor then hitting a left footed long range shot. They were dealt a blow though when a shot from the left hand side squirmed under Daffy to put the visitors two goals ahead. Canford showed last week at Corfe Castle that there is some resilience in this side and they once again worked tirelessly to the end none more so than Lezer who never stopped chasing down and also Kinger who led the line well and encouraged the young troops throughout. Canford got back into the game when Sam Fields was allowed too much space on the edge of the area and he fired into the bottom corner. And the comeback was complete with just 7 minutes to go after some good build up play saw a fantastic shot from Sam from the edge of the area fly into the roof of the net. There were still time for some late drama however, as both teams threw people forward to try and snatch a late winner. The Canford defence made some great last ditch blocks as Wareham threw caution to the wind but were grateful to Dean Fields for ensuring a hard earned point. In the very last minute, Sam was caught in midfield and with Wareham bursting forward in numbers, Daffy got a crucial touch on the ball that was just enough to take enough off it for Dean to slide in and make a crucial block right on the line to hook the ball clear.
Final score: Canford Utd 3-3 Wareham Rangers Reserves
Goalscorers: Connor Wright 36 mins, Sam Fields 81 and 83 minutes.
Man of the match - Lezer
