Stoke Home Lost 0 – 1
Adam Armstrong sat out most of the return game with Stoke, a fixture now meaningless for Saints but the Potters still needed points to stay clear of dodgy last day permutations; results elsewhere meant one would have been enough, but against lack-lustre Saints, three was what they got – and deserved. City should have had an early lead but Laurent made a mess of dispatching the loose ball after McCarthy could only palm away Campbell’s cross-shot. Such excitement was harder to find at the other end until Harwood-Bellis gave Mara a chance to run onto a high bouncing ball; the striker opted not to attempt the tricky skill of controlling it but chose a header instead, although it meant a painful collision for both him and goalkeeper Iverson – as it was the header was decent enough but McNally got back to clear. Campbell was by some distance the best player on the pitch and he got what proved to be the game’s only goal thanks to a long route one pass, a bit of pace to make space for a shot and McCarthy over-compensating for his usual weakness at the near post by leaving a big gap on his right side. On came Bednarek for Harwood-Bellis at the break (probably pre-planned) and Aribo for Charles (probably not). A more significant impact was made by Downes and Adams, replacing Brooks and Mara on the hour, Downes being needed to shore up a defence that was made uncomfortable by players (mainly Campbell) running at them and Manhoef should have done better with a couple of chances hit too close to McCarthy, but in fairness the home keeper made some decent saves in the second period. Few Saints fans would have objected to his having to face a penalty after a challenge by Stephens on Campbell but referee Webb was in no mood for spot kicks as he also turned down Edozie’s less convincing appeals. Edozie, though, was regularly getting past his man, even if the resulting lay-offs could have been better… it must have looked different from the Itchen side of the pitch as he was substituted with over ten minutes remaining. It was a poor way to round off the home element of the regular season, but a lap of honour was still planned. Few stayed behind to witness it, and apparently those who did had to wait an inordinate time for it to begin. Maybe the poor dears were waiting for the rain to stop.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
1. Alex McCarthy. Definitely a MotM contender in the second half, not so sure about the opening 45.
2. Kyle Walker-Peters. I guess he did OK, but also he could have done better.
23. Sammy Edozie. Another who was better after the break (although there weren’t many!).
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