Sutton 1-1 Southampton

The Team Alan Pardew took looked fairly strong without being a full strength side. The Saints though having superior fitness were unable to outgun Ryman League club Sutton.

The two teams line up for the first half was :-

Sutton
Scriven, Downer(McKimm 83), Bray(Dos Santos 56), Goodliffe, Page, Adjei(Kavanagh 70), Woods-Garness(Slegg 59), Davis, Dundas(Watts( 77), Jolly(Costas 73), Orionishe
Subs not used Shaw


Saints XI
Davis(Bialkowski 46), Butterfield, Fonte, Jaidi, Harding(Mills 46), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hammond(Wotton 46), Schneiderlin, Holmes, Dickson(Doble 20)(Barnard), Lambert
Subs not used : Reeves, Martin, McNish.

Referee Craig Hicks

Attendance 876

On a hot summer's day the match started reatively slowly. The first chance of the match falling to Dean Hammond with a free header in the 7th minute which he headed over.

The first reply fronm Sutton came on 13 minutes when Orilinishe forced a low save from Davis.

On 20 minutes Ryan Dickson who had started in central midfield was subbed due to what looked like a groin injury. Another pre-season injury which makes it another name on our growing injury room users.

Doble his replacement was soon in the thick of it but Sutton shook us with a goal down to some sloppy defending.Craig Dundas sneaked in behing the back four to meet the ball and fire a low shot into the net past Davis.

Oxlade-Chamberlain tried to spark us into life but chances were few and far between throughout the remainder of the first half. The closest we came was when Jaidi cut a corner back to Lambert but he fired over. - HT 1-0.

Three Subs were used at the start of the second half. Bialkowski for Davis,Fish Mills for Harding and Wotton for Hammond. Wotton also being given the captain's armband.

The second half began with a Saints goal. Schneiderlin was fouled outside the box and Rickie Lambert fired in a ferocious shot through the crowded penalty area and into the far corner of the net.

Saints had a lucky escape soon after when Bradley-Woods had a shot hit the foot of the post before bouncing out to safety. This simply spurred Saints on as they tried to take control.

Saints went close on 53 minutes when Lambert fizzed a 30 yard free kick just wide. Shortly afterwards a butterfield cross was headed wide by Holmes.

Saints then brought Barnard on in the 63rd minute switching the formation to 4-4-2. He replaced Doble who had filled the the midfield slot after Dickson retired injured. The switch started a spell of improved form for the Saints.

On 70 minutes Barnard was put in by Lambert but the angle was narrow and the shot was safely held by Scrivens. On 75 minutes Barnard's harrying allowed Lambert a shot which was blocked only to fall to Wotton who blasted over.

The pressure seemed to be building as first Lambert saw a free kick sail over the bar, and then Holmes connected with another Butterfield cross only to see the keeper save.

Still the Saints pushed on and Oxlade-Chamberlain had a firm shot pushed away and Wotton then had an effort denied him in the six yard box. The game finished all square at 1-1.


It may not have been a win as hoped for but a few of our fringe players did get a run out. Dickson's injury will have caused a little consternation in the camp but at least we are now well covered in his favourite position.

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