Cureton increases the pain

Saturday, August 18, 2007

A couple of players returned for the game at Norwich, but much as Viafara and Jones have been missed, it was the arrival of Wayne Thomas that caused most interest and indeed had most impact.

Thomas played his part in enabling Southampton to withstand some early pressure, but the team then went on to dominate the next phase of the game and fully deserved a half time lead, courtesy of Jones who finished well (and added to his value?).

Things have a habit of going pear shaped after the break, but if anything Saints upped their game, and we all thought they had scored again when Marshall made a complete Horlicks of Surman's shot and only just rescued himself as the ball threatened to roll over the line. Understandably, the linesman was not in a position to be certain that it had crossed the line, and TV actually suggests that it didn't, but George was not happy about the incident.

He wasn't too chuffed either about the decision to treat Makin's pass back to Davis as deliberate, but it looked clear cut from the stands. However a fair number of us didn't think Saints organised their goal-line stand for the free kick very well, and sure enough Cureton shot into the top corner.

The way Saints fell apart after that is worrying, and Davis had already made two fine saves before Cureton finished impressively to add to the three goals he scored against us last season. As the news of Hampshire's cup final at Lord's got gloomier and gloomier, it was a good job we had some excellent beer to enjoy; it doesn't look like it'll be a sober season.

LSSC Man of the Match: Wayne Thomas, thanks to Martyn Brockwell's casting vote after he inexplicably joined our return train at Manningtree. Thomas was tying with Davis up till then.

Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Doherty, Drury, Croft, Brellier (Fotheringham 46), Russell, Lappin, Cureton (Strihavka 84), Brown, Fotheringham (Chadwick 82).
Subs Not Used: Gilks, Dublin.

Booked: Shackell, Russell, Doherty.

Goals: Cureton 61, 71.

Southampton: Davis, Wright, Thomas, Makin, Skacel, Dyer (Hammill 72), Viafara, Safri, Surman (Wright-Phillips 86), Rasiak (Saganowski 66), Jones.
Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Ostlund.

Booked: Safri. Goals: Jones 37.

Att: 24,004.

Ref: C Oliver (Northumberland).