Hollywood (Wrexham) Home Won 2 – 1
Not that I was there for any of them, but I don’t suppose there were many clues pre-season as to Will Still’s line-up for the opener against Wrexham. He went for Bazunu (no surprise but I expect it will all end in tears), a back three, Downes and Charles in the middle and Fraser, Armstrong and Robinson running around up front. That leaves Sugawara and Welington in what can only be described as ‘wide’ roles, being neither defence nor attack, or contributing much in midfield either. Not a great start, and Cody should have scored from close range and then Windass clipped the bar with a shot that Bazunu was never going to get, but Saints began to grow into the game and were coming close themselves. Then Moore got away from Edwards, who decided it was necessary to push the experienced forward in the back as he was about to shoot; the visitors’ claims for a red card ignored the close presence of Stephens as cover, but Windass converted from the spot nevertheless. Robinson hit the post on the stroke of half time, and Armstrong’s follow up was blocked on the line by Cody, so at least that boded well. And the second period began promisingly too, with Charles’s shot deflected narrowly wide off Fletcher’s suspiciously outstretched arm – a home goal always looked a possibility although things weren’t quite working in the final third; Wrexham’s efforts were now confined to breaks and Southampton’s disjointed back three was changed to a back four. It didn’t stop O’Brien dithering over his finish when one-on-one, allowing Stephens to get back to challenge. Then it happened again, this time Bazunu coming to Southampton’s rescue (and saving Quarshie’s blushes after an error forced by Charles’s backpass) by stopping Hardie’s effort from a similar situation. That was on 87 minutes, so close enough to the end not to make much difference in the eyes of many. It didn’t work out that way as Saints won a free kick just before the 90 minutes were up; it looked too far out for any in a side lacking regular specialists from such situations but substitute Manning had other ideas, sending a left foot shot into the top corner. The prospects of going on to win in six minutes added time seemed more Roy of the Rovers than Still of the Saints but the manager did get off to a winning start thanks to a 40 yard pass from Charles on 90+5 that found Manning whose low cross was touched on by sub Downs for Stephens to follow up at the far post, his shot going in off the bar and Cody’s attempt to clear, this time from behind the line. Phew!
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
3. Ryan Manning for an eventful 18 + 6 minutes off the bench.
5. Jack Stephens for a goal and match saving tackle, as well as having to lead struggling rookie defenders Edwards and Quarshie.
46. Jay Robinson in his second start – might need to work on finishing techniques, though
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