Match Report - Southam United vs FC Stratford

MATCH

REPORT

Hellenic League Division 1, Arden Garage Stadium, 17.08.22

SOUTHAM UNITED 0FC STRATFORD 0

The Saints were back in action under the lights as they traveled to FC Stratford in a Hellenic League Division 1 midweek match up.

Coming off three losses on the bounce it was imperative for the away side to start putting some results together and pick up valuable points. No one in the Southam camp was under any illusion, however, that this young and skillful FC Stratford side was always going to be a difficult task and challenge.

As they have done many times so far this season, the Saints started strong, with a flurry of opportunities, particularly coming off the head of Adam Neale after several crosses and corners were put into dangerous areas.

Then FC Stratford started taking their chances on the other end and forced a few saves from the ever-present keeper, Lewis Hudson. The young team showed off their technical ability and came close a few times, but the team in white showed how they’ve improved on the defensive

side of the ball.

Forward Melvin Mauritson had a few more chances late on in the half, but the whistle was blown with both sides even at the break.

The second half started as the first had ended, and with the match opening up it became very end-to-end football.

Mauritson had a few more chances and Lewis Hudson showed his worth with some fantastic saves.

At one point Stratford’s number 10 had the ball in the back of the net, but it was called back for offsides and play continued. Many on the Stratford bench called for a penalty when Hudson came out to meet a through pass and came together with the Stratford forward before retreating back to the goal and making a finger-tip save, but the referee was sure in his decision not to give the spot-kick and the home team were forced to continue with the match.

In the end both sides had a slew of chances, but were unable to convert them. The ref blew the final whistle with the match still at 0-0 and both teams picking up a point. The point proved to be Southam’s first on the season and one that they hope will kick-start a better run of form in the matches to come.

“We looked very fresh”, said Head Coach Richard Kay after the 0-0 draw. “It was by far our best performance throughout the preseason and first few games of the season. We were organised and looked very, very fit on the night, and we had to be against a very young, athletic, FC Stratford team who are very well coached. Most of them playing full-time in the academy with a few in and around the first team.

“So going away from home on a midweek night is one of the toughest tests in non-league football, but the preparation was spot on before the match. We had a fantastic warm-up and the mindset and attitude was top notch.

“The lads went into the game with a lot of positivity after the second-half against Milton. We had some chances that one an other day we would have taken and we could have been 2-0 up after an hour. Two clear chances.

“We need to just keep working hard and keep being organised. In terms of breaking the games down, thats four clean sheets we’ve kept in a half of football, so defensively we’ve been pretty good aside from the odd 10 or 15 minutes were we’ve conceded soft goals, and goals in two’s or three’s.

“Its all steps we want to be taking. We obviously want to be hard to beat and be better defensively and keep clean sheets. We’ve got to take our chances when they come around. We’re not talking half chances, but the one or two real chances we get.

“It should give the lads good confidence moving forward, that result against a very well organised Stratford side.”

The team are back in action on Saturday 20 August at BHP for a 3pm kickoff •

SOUTHAM UNITED: Hudson, Dunn, Green, Neale, Barby (c), Yeates, Ellis Champkins, O’Brien, Mauritson, Osborne, Ethan Champkins. subs: Dixon, Bloomer not used: Drummond, Boe, Feasey

FC STRATFORD: Cashmore, Hodson, Cook (Fischer45’), Isichei (Aspinall-Smyth 51’), Everard (Kroner 80’), Hamer (c), Sykes (Sone 65’), Poulson, Collins, Johnston (Kiley 80’), Chaundy