The first ten minutes of the game with Wimborne was reminiscent of a diesel engine starting on a cold winter's day but by half time the Southampton team were purring like a Rolls Royce. Julia Fabrizi's early netting was disallowed for being outside the D. However slick play led to Southampton moving into a 3 - 0 lead at half time with Jo Edmondson, Naomi Dunn and Fabrizi scoring. The second half saw Southampton's superior fitness and strength take the game by storm, rattling in six. These coming from Bex Sharr (3), Sue Crowley, Fiona (nosebleed, over lapping from right defence) Jarman and Edmondson. It was not the scoreline that was so gratifying but the style in which it was achieved. The team passed with confidence and ran tirelessly for each other. Brenda Kimber stepping in as a late cover owing to sickness showed her potential at centre back and midfield. A good new year start on which to build the second half of the season.
The seconds went one down early in this match with table topping Havant but showed resolution in defence before a mis-kick allowed Havant to roll in a second. Southampton were back in the game when Nicki LeBas calmly slipped the ball passed the oncoming keeper. Havant again went two ahead when a dipping short corner went in. Again Southampton came back when skipper Maggs Ingram played a one two at a short corner before beating the keeper. Havant finished strongly and gained two goals in the last five minutes to give a 5 - 2 scoreline.
The Thirds started badly when Trojan stalwart, Georgie Cornick deflected the ball passed keeper Lauren Curry, who otherwise was not called upon to make a save throughout the game. Southampton were always dominant but could not beat the Trojan's keeper. A great reverse stick shot from Hollie Nutt brought of the save of the game, the keeper diving high to her left to palm the ball away. Southampton eventually found the net when Sue Quinton flicked the ball passed the stranded keeper. Two points lost but when you have a side sporting seven players aged 17 and younger the future can only be good.
How often do you hear the words "the score line was not a fair reflection of
the game"? Well, you are going to hear it once again, only this time it's
true!!!!
The ladies 4's met a very young ( ages ranging from 14 -21) fit, trained Ryde
side who are also riding high at second place in Div 3 (no apologies for the
pun). In contrast the 4's (6 U18s and 5 over 35's) are a not so well placed
at 2nd from bottom in the same division (and had lost to Ryde in the opening
game of the league 7-1).
By now you have probably deduced that this was not going to be an easy game
for the 4's. But they were not overawed by the occasion and took the game to
Ryde from the off. We had opportunities to go ahead but unfortunately were
not quite upto putting the ball into the back of the net. Ryde settled down
and against the run of the game scored their first goal. They followed this
by two more before the half time whistle.
The second half saw Southampton's determination and grit (and cunning by
switching Maria Blake and Kath Harley in right defence) rewarded by a shot
from Lyn Price ricocheting off the post and being put away by Sarah Russell,
who received a resounding cheer from the sideline from the 1st Xl men. Within
a few minutes Maria Blake put the ball into the back of the net to put us
only one goal behind (again cheers were to be heard coming from the sideline
- thanks guys, we did appreciate the support). The game was not over yet!.
Southampton kept up the battle but were thwarted by a further 3 goals from
Ryde. If games could be won on determination Southampton would have run out
the winners but unfortunately, as we all know, this is not the case.
Overall it was a well-balanced game, irrespective of the score line. Ryde
were just able to put the ball away whilst Southampton still have to find
ways to hit the back of the net.
Dee Matthews
The Fifths started off their campaign to get back into the promotion battle by beating Andover 3 - 1. Southampton went ahead through Mary Aiken but were pulled back to 1 - 1 by half time. A second half rally saw Sue Tinson and Helen Carter score to make the game secure.
Having enjoyed some positive results and performances over the Christmas
league break Southampton leaked two early goals against a free running
Weymouth side. The first, coming from open play, a result of Weymouth
forwards getting behind the Southampton defence, and the second from a simple
short corner.
Positive attitude showed as Southampton continued to move the ball about
creating opportunities. A right side attack eventually saw the ball passed
to Chris Ellis on the left of the D, who turned and thrashed the ball high
into the Weymouth net. Neil Hanley got them back on even terms before half
time. The second half belonged to Southampton as they ran in five. Open
Play goals coming from Ed Danby (scoring for the third week), Kelvin Wyatt
and Chris Ellis. Whilst Chris Stokes deflected a short corner and Matt
Swzinto (youngest player) calmly converted a penalty stroke. Weymouth kept
working and scored two late goals to give a final score of 7 - 4.
See here for the 2nd XI match report.
The Threes played out a tremendous top of the table tussle with Winchester and both sides were determined to produce a result. Winchester started better and went one up. This stimulated Southampton, who aparently play better coming form behind and they started to dominate. Danny Wilkes playing a major role in midfield forced home the equaliser. The game looked settled for honours even but BJ (james Wise) created a late goal from pure perceverance to help Southampton move seven points clear.
Aldermaston started very well and gained 4 short corners with in the first
couple of minutes in their match against Southampton 5ths. Both teams battled
away, and most of the play seemed to be
going Aldermaston's way. Aldermaston then made a run, which resulted in them
going 0-1 up.
Southampton battled back hard and gained some short corners, from one of
which Martin Rosher scored.
The game then turned very scrappy and lacked basic skill and finishing from
both sides.
Aldermaston finally found the net and won the game 1-2.
James Fewtrell helped the Otters to a good start by scoring the winning goal in their match with Chichester. Result 1 - 0.
The Masters' fixture with high flying Reading look even more daunting when reading arrived with a youthful looking squad but Southampton organised themselves well, defending in numbers and relying on breaks to earn scoring chances. One such chance came when a short corner was awarded and Paul Eastwood showed his deadly strike is still to be reckoned with as he hammered the ball home.
The Vets had a glorious first half start as the moved to a half time lead of 4 - 1 over Winchester. Geoff Danby [2], Chris Jones and Pete Terry doing the damage. Winchester would not lie down and forced a well-deserved draw with a second half rally for a 4 - 4 scoreline.
Under 14 Girls
Southampton were always going to struggle in this match being a year or two younger and playing against a side that have shown their pedigree at under 14 by winning the Under 13 national championship last season. Despite losing 7 - 0 there was lots of promise to be seen and the girls will have had a great opportunity to learn from this experience.
The second squad were also against a strong Gosport side and worked hard to win 2 - 1. Hannah Parvin and Georgie Cole scoring.
Boys
Visiting Wayfarers Under 18s started with only 10 players and leaked goals from the start. Their plight was not help when a goal bound strike caught the defender on the ankle and he had to withdraw from the game. Southampton continued to pile on the pressure, playing the ball about and creating some good openings. Five minutes into the second half and with Southampton leading 7 - 0 a Wayfarer's defender made a low tackle and was injured, reducing them to 8 players. It was agreed to finish the game at this point. Chris Stokes [4], Danny Morgan, Jas Sohal Singh and Matt Swzinto scoring.
Under 12 Boys
Your under 12's correspondent reports a great result by the under 12 boys on
Sunday last, overcoming a very strong Bournemouth team ( containing some
Dorset county players ) at the Sports Centre 1-0 . Bournemouth had defeated
us earlier in the season at their own ground . The scoreline does not reflect
the fact that Bournemouth were under pressure for long periods of the game as
their midfield were forced to give ground to some good tackling and
interception by our own midfield who also distributed the ball intelligently
to both wings.
The scoreline does reflect the fact that the Southampton forwards were not
able to easily convert the many chances they created into goals until a well
taken goal by Andy Gibbs in the third period finally took the game. Shooting
practice is on the agenda for future training sessions !
Very good individual performances from Sam Meacher at full back and Tim
Fuller at right half for tackling interception and distribution and again
from our inside forwards Gajan Mehedavan and Alastair Hunter for persistence
and the creating of many chances. Andy Salmon again looked dangerous at
centre forward and went close to scoring on 2 occasions. Man of the match
award to Alex Richardson for a very mature performance in running the
midfield and holding things together for the team until he had to be
withdrawn near the end through injury.
Good performance. Next fixture Trojans in 2 weeks.
Roger Merry (And Friends!)