West Ham Won 2 – 3, I just caught the end of the first goal
Tonda hinted that one or both of Downes and Larin could play a part at West Ham, but to no-one’s great surprise, nether was to feature – good to keep the opposition guessing, though. Jander and Dobbin were chosen to start ahead of Bragg and Mubama, which maybe indicated a positive approach that was to pay dividends. It’s doubtful whether either had more than one touch before Saints took the lead, Matsuki completing the job after Hermansen could only parry Scienza’s shot when the ball fell nicely back to him. The lead was doubled with just over ten minutes gone when Hermansen flapped Jander’s hanging cross out towards Bree who volleyed the bouncing ball into the roof of the net. The team were very much in the ascendency for the first 20 minutes but when the home side began to get hold of the ball, it suddenly became very difficult to get it back. No surprise, then, when the Hammers pulled one back, and only the meanest hearts amongst Saints fans would have begrudged Walker-Peters who fired in the game’s second memorable goal from full back. Southampton were always posing a threat to a surprisingly flaky defence when they managed to get forward and a very welcome third goal arrived on 34 minutes: a series of blocks seemed to be denying us until Hermansen, for the second time, half stopped a Scienza shot, this time with his legs, only for it to drop for a Saints player – Dobbin, who put the loose ball away from very close in. West Ham never quite regained the dominance of possession that they had in the lead up to their first goal, but with the likes of Bowen and Solomon, and later Piroe, in their line-up, they take some handling – so step forward Peretz and his defensive unit to keep the lead comfortable. Had it been extended, Saints would surely have strolled home, and they nearly did so when Dobbin turned well and grazed the post with his shot. Attacking players were being matched by the full backs in this game and Kilman was the next to try his luck… which was definitely out as he hit the bar and saw the ball hit Peretz in the back on the rebound only to go wide of the goal. When five added minutes were announced, Saints seemed home and hosed but Suček fired a shot inside Peretz’s near post for us to enter squeaky bum territory. Happily Peretz was to save his best for very late on, saving brilliantly when Bowen’s cross was touched on by Engels, and possibly Suček as well. Quite a match, and worth braving Storm Boelo for.
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