Match Report - Littleton FC

MATCH

REPORT

Hellenic League Division 1, Five Acres Stadium, 20.09.22

SOUTHAM UNITED 4

(Dixon 15’, Lawes 65’, Barby 80’, 85’)

LITTLETON 0

With recent positive results to improve upon, Southam United were away to Littleton FC Tuesday night for another important Hellenic League Division 1 match up.

Despite the travel times for a midweek match, the Saints came out strong behind another adjusted lineup from Head Coach Richard Kay.

It was another start from 16 year old Callum Stewart after receiving the Player of the Match award in his last match out against Kidlington at the beginning of the month. Kay also gave a start to newcomer Craig Watkin as he slotted in on the back-line beside Vice-Captain Ryan Harris.

But despite the rotated squad, Southam United proved their quality and were the first to draw blood on the evening. It only took Joshua Dixon 15 minutes before he found a well placed effort in the back of the net past Littleton’s keeper after taking the ball on the break when the referee played the advantage.

The squad was kept quiet however, until Jay Lawes made a substitute appearance as well as an immediate

impact on the pitch. It was his goal in the 65th minute that doubled the lead, and the team never looked back.

Littleton kept looking for a break through and looked to be quite resilient and willing to push for a competitive match, but Captain Simon Barby dashed any hopes when he scored

Southam’s third on the night in the 80th minute. But the Saints stalwart was not finished yet when he added a second to his tally in the 85th minute, all but putting the match to bed and sealing a celebratory journey back to Southam.

With the entire team coming together and showing their quality it was tough to choose just one that stood out, but that was the task that Amy Dunkley, a traveling Southam supporter, was given, and in the end she highlighted right-back Sol Bloomer for his all-around performance and gave him Man of the Match. Sol has seen playing time in that less familiar defensive position a few times so far this season and is really starting to show his quality and take ownership of the role.

However, Bloomer wasn’t the only one to receive accolades after the match. Kay announced after the match that the club has been nominated to be in the running for Hellenic Division One September Manager/Team of the month. With the results to be determined in time, its an impressive step up from the shaky start of the season only a few short weeks ago.

Kay praised his team after the match calling the effort “superb from everyone involved”.

Supporters that made the journey to Littleton praised the team for their resilience and quality throughout the whole squad. Joe Oliver described tough playing conditions but was

impressed with a “great battling performance in the end [...] 3 points on the road and a clean sheet”.

Paul Kay added, “Great evening for football. The lads controlled the game. The home side, to their credit, kept going but had no answer to our play”. He also credited Man of the Match defender Sol Bloomer saying, “Mention to Sol tonight, a great performance”.

The away victory has pushed Southam up the league table into 14th place, picking up some much needed points.

With a home Bluefin Sports (UHL) Challenge Cup match against Shipston Excelsior coming up on the 1st of October, the Saints won’t see league play again until the following week (8th of October) when they welcome mid-table team, Cheltenham Saracens, to Bobby Hancocks Park.

Team: Hudson, Bloomer, Stewart, Harris, Watkin, Yeates, Dixon, Ellis Champkins, Mauritson, Barby (c), Osborne

Subs Used: Lawes, Ethan Champkins, Neale, GoddardSubs Not Used: KingAttendance: 26 •

SOUTHAM UNITED: Hudson, Bloomer, Stewart, Harris, Watkin, Yeates, Dixon, Ellis Champkins, Mauritson, Barby (c), Osborne Subs: Lawes, Ethan Champkins, Neale, Goddard Subs not used: King,

LITTLETON FC: Aimes, Boyd, Hancock, Hart, Johnstone, Lee, Martin, McDonald, Phillips, Virgo-Broom, Wilcox Subs not used: Drake-Cervantes, Leek, Massanure