29oct11
Conference South
Westleigh Park, Havant
att. 799
Now, of course, it’s too soon to start saying “where did it all go right?”. After all Christmas is coming, a period when, typically, the H&W goose does not get fat. If anything it shrivels like a willy in an ice bath. Indeed, traditionally, our players treat the winter like hedgehogs, in that they slow their breathing down to a bare minimum and curl up under a shed until spring.
However it’s never too soon to tell you that we’ve had an odd week. We’ve had lots of them. Picture the scene this past Tuesday evening if you will (I have to, as I was at a work thing in Manchester). It is half-time, the Hawks have put in such a lacklustre shift for the previous 45 minutes as to suggest reluctant working to rule while votes in a ballot for strike action were being counted. At this point, sirens were calling us onto the relegation zone rocks.
On the whistle to signal it was time for the tea and orange segments, boos buzzed around like militant worker bees demanding a new head of state, the manager was loudly questioned as to the exact timing of his resignation and generally the visceral side of disappointment rang out on the terraces for the first time in a couple of years.
Yet, here we are three halves of football later having scored nine goals, and conceded none further. Exciting stuff no doubt, and reminiscent in its rampantness of our ‘crazy April’ from two seasons ago (last five games = five wins = 3-1, 4-0, 6-0, 2-0, 5-2). However one must temper any excitement as we’ve turned so many corners during Shaun Gale’s tenure we’ve whittled the sharp edges of those corners to the point that it’s now a roundabout.
On Tuesday, we faced Dorchester who were looking for a catalyst that would heave their player-manager out of his job. A two-nil lead at half-time wasn’t going to do it, so we obliged by running them ragged in the second half. Three days later Ashley Vickers departed the Dorchester hot seat. Westleigh Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Vickers in 2011. This past week we’ve, essentially, tipped him off the end of the managerial plank, and back in March he found himself staring down a red card here for taking time out of another Hawk v Dorch midweek fixture to wrestle with a near-naked man.
This weekend Farnborough came to town in an environment that, not for the first time, shows they like to spend well beyond their means, like a student maxing out their loan on beer and curries before remembering the list of text books in their back pocket. It is only three years since Farnborough TOWN withered under a mountain of debt. The new Farnborough FC were sent to Southern League rehab, but they said no, no, no, we rather like ripping off our creditors, and are looking like they will sink through our division like a stone once again. Especially when you factor in their Tuesday night was spent salvaging a 1-7 half-time deficit to only lose 8-2, and this was at Truro, themselves dipping tootsies in the financial cess-pit.
At the beginning of the first half, all things seemed fairly even, but the tendency within the play was certainly more inclined to the goal we were stood behind. Eventually we took the lead after 36 minutes, Ollie Palmer following up his brace in Tuesday’s turnaround with another goal, a header that skimmed off a defensive head on the line before bobbling about in the frame in the top corner of the net. Now, if the Conference South had a dubious goals committee, there might well be a stewards enquiry into whether or not it was his head or a defender’s that projected the ball goalwards. In any case, he spirited off like a greyhound out of the traps to excitedly claim his scoring bonus.
As it was our second goal would also be lucrative for Ollie as a good run and cheeky pass by Craig Braham-Barrett put him through and his finish was sublime in its delicacy, thread the ball ever so gently past the keeper’s outstretched arm.
After Wes Fogden left for Bournemouth we wondered where the goals would come from. The answer: easy, the fella that rocked up last week. Not that Ollie turning up just before Wes cleared off was a pre-emptive like-for-like. Wes is a jinksy, beaverish midfielder, about four foot tall, and with a face like a brand new relief map of London Bridge (now that ‘The Shard’ has been built anyway). Ollie on the other hand is an old school poacher of a forward, 6’ 5” in his stockinged feet, and wearing a mush that looks like someone’s had at it with a shovel.
We know it’s early days but Ollie’s goal ratio (7 goals in 5 games since signing) is not only better than Wes’, it’s better than our club’s two most legendary strikers ‘Super’ Jimmy Taylor (138 in 297 games) and Rocky Baptiste (85 in 145). His partnership with the harrying, never-say-die Scott Jones means we don’t really need the big lump of an ex-Premiership (and Champions League) striker, Vincent Pericard, currently wafting around our club like a something-of-nothing parp-fart. One imagines that, despite playing for free, he won’t be upon our nostrils for too long, as his barely discernable presence seems pleasingly unnecessary. Give me two fresh, committed, young non-Leaguers over a famous man seemingly sliding fast out of the professional game with barely a whimper any day.
Anyway, character assassination aside, two goals to the good soon became three, our man of the season thus far Sammy Igoe showing all of his class by lobbing keeper Sam Somerville from the side of the box with an up and under that took seemingly forever to drop and bounce back up into the net.
Fifteen minutes later as Palmer tried to turn in the box to seal a hat-trick, he only managed to brush the ball with his toe as he fell backwards under the attention of several defenders. However Steve Ramsay was on hand to nick in and poke the ball home. Rambo prefers a more elaborate route to goal glory though and wrapped up the rather splendid afternoon with a thirty yarder that, in fairness, scuffed a bit, skidding like a stone on a pond before smacking the post and drowning in the base of the net.
So, that’s twelve goals in three games in the last week, nine in three consecutive halves of good football played. Stringing two halves together has been troublesome enough so we’ll delight in this whilst being aware that greater challenges await. Such as away at Woking next Saturday. Will normal service be resumed, or will we see something really remarkable? This site will aim to report back to you on this next week.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Hampton & Richmond Borough 3 Havant & Waterlooville 3
22oct11
Conference South
The Beveree, Hampton
att. 475
When it comes to taking a decent lead but squandering it and ending up disappointed, this season we rank up there with Kevin Keegan’s first stint with Newcastle and Adolf Hitler’s ill-fated Europa League campaign. Havant & ‘Ville gaffer Shaun Gale currently remains more popular than Hitler but that’s mainly due to the lack of any crossover with the Combat 18 membership amongst our week-in-week-out crew.
One has to acknowledge the fickleness of saying, as we have recently, that as long as we watch some entertaining football, win a few at home and pick up points on the road, we can handle not being serious contenders for promotion. Make no mistake, this was a terrific game to watch, however our desire to see a pulsating contest ebbs away somewhat when we take a two goal lead away from home whilst lying two places, and two points, above the relegation zone.
It’s not as though it’s hasn’t been a familiar tale of late. We let a two goal half-time lead slip in similar fashion at home to Sutton whilst the two games prior to this have seen advantages disappear like a magician’s assistant. Two goals in two minutes did for our hopes against Bromley, whilst last weekend in the FA Cup, an early Steve Ramsay goal from the penalty spot led to nothing more than a 3-2 defeat to Weston-super-Mare. A Cup run into the propers may have anaesthetised the escalating ache amongst our support. As it is the operation was botched, but we’re awake, alive and desperate for a new physician to oversee our recovery.
It will be a sad day when Shaun Gale leaves this club, he has been a loyal servant for over eleven years and it is that close-knittedness which means he retains the support of friends in high places. However I am more than prepared to deal with that sadness if it means we can begin to move forward and start enjoying ourselves again.
There has been little in terms of vocal anger on the terraces thus far, it’s mostly coming out on the online forum; the energy certainly feels like it has sapped amongst our hardcore. Our singing here at Hampton certainly lacked gusto, having as much vocal power and harmony as a playgroup carol concert comprising only the very shyest and tone-deaf of toddlers.
As we’ve said about eight thousand times before, “we looked good in the first half, but…”. As at Weston, a very early lead was ours, Sammy Igoe tapping a free-kick to Lee Peacock who unleashed a furious shot that took a slight deflection and sailed over Hampton keeper Matt Lovett. On the half hour, the lead was doubled when Lovett got his substantial frame in front of Ollie ‘Oi’ Palmer’s poked effort, but Scott Jones a.k.a. Jesus (the long-hair + surname combo meant, nickname wise, blasphemy was the only way we could go) was on hand to bounce a shot off the turf and over the now prostrate keeper. Perry Ryan also hit the post with a long range shot to add to our confidence levels.
Once again the half-time team-talk appeared to go along the lines of “well, I’d take it easy now, they look terrible”, and given Hampton are currently acting as entrenched foundations to the rest of the Conference South’s structure, one might well have assumed that all their morale had now vanished. A goal early in the second half for the home side sorted all that out, especially with it being such a fine one. Frankly it looked like Maradona in ’86 (the good one not the nawty one), Nathan Collier going through our midfield and defence like a puppy let loose among the Gormley’s on Crosby beach.
Astonishing, and their second effort was also easy on the eye, James Simmonds unleashing a well judged lob that left Lyall Beasley grabbing for air like a trapeze artist with timing problems. Happily we responded well to this set-back, re-establishing a lead within three minutes as Jon Macdonald’s long throw was met by Ollie Palmer’s scalp, the ball looping from it over a stranded Matt Lovett.
To put three past Lovett is a rare treat, as he’s been fantastic against us over the years and such a genial presence in terms of responding to behind-the-goal banter that he’s a popular figure amongst us without ever having played for us. Paul Bastock, formerly of St Albans City, was similarly feted.
So when Lovett’s knee-injury flared up, causing him to go down unchallenged twice in quick succession, he left the field warmly applauded not only by the Hampton fans, but equally so by our collective. The upshot of this was that Hampton, without a sub keeper on the bench, had to put a gangly outfield player in goal. Yet in the fifteen minutes he was on the field, he was never tested, and this came back to bite us, although it took Hampton three bites at the cherry.
Firstly a goal was chalked off for offside, then Lyall Beasley was required to save a penalty. Finally in the lengthy extra period caused by Lovett’s injury double, a Hawk clearance was smashed straight into the referee, the rebound falling kindly for Hampton who were able to work their way easily through our defence again, and score comfortably. Unless you have ref’s watching from a television monitor at the side of the pitch, there’s always the risk they’ll get in the way if you decide to wallop it at them. Certainly doesn’t mean you should wave the opposition through afterwards.
If one has to take the positives from the game, it is that Ollie Palmer has now scored three in three since signing with us and his partnership up front with Scott Jones looks like it has potential. It reminded me a bit of the days we had James Taylor and Jamie O’Rourke up front, and if they can be half as fruitful as that double-act, then that’ll be something to keep the home fires burning.
However our real problems lie in defence. Scoring three away from home is always good but not if you’re thinking, “mmm, I think we really need 4 or 5 here” against the team lying bottom of the division. I’d like to say the only way is up, but it isn’t, the relegation places are chomping away like hungry mouths, and we are the tasty morsel that is hanging directly above them.
Previously, on dubSteps
11sep10: Hampton & Richmond Borough 0 Havant & Waterlooville 1
15mar08: Hampton & Richmond Borough 1 Havant & Waterlooville 1
Conference South
The Beveree, Hampton
att. 475
When it comes to taking a decent lead but squandering it and ending up disappointed, this season we rank up there with Kevin Keegan’s first stint with Newcastle and Adolf Hitler’s ill-fated Europa League campaign. Havant & ‘Ville gaffer Shaun Gale currently remains more popular than Hitler but that’s mainly due to the lack of any crossover with the Combat 18 membership amongst our week-in-week-out crew.
One has to acknowledge the fickleness of saying, as we have recently, that as long as we watch some entertaining football, win a few at home and pick up points on the road, we can handle not being serious contenders for promotion. Make no mistake, this was a terrific game to watch, however our desire to see a pulsating contest ebbs away somewhat when we take a two goal lead away from home whilst lying two places, and two points, above the relegation zone.
It’s not as though it’s hasn’t been a familiar tale of late. We let a two goal half-time lead slip in similar fashion at home to Sutton whilst the two games prior to this have seen advantages disappear like a magician’s assistant. Two goals in two minutes did for our hopes against Bromley, whilst last weekend in the FA Cup, an early Steve Ramsay goal from the penalty spot led to nothing more than a 3-2 defeat to Weston-super-Mare. A Cup run into the propers may have anaesthetised the escalating ache amongst our support. As it is the operation was botched, but we’re awake, alive and desperate for a new physician to oversee our recovery.
It will be a sad day when Shaun Gale leaves this club, he has been a loyal servant for over eleven years and it is that close-knittedness which means he retains the support of friends in high places. However I am more than prepared to deal with that sadness if it means we can begin to move forward and start enjoying ourselves again.
There has been little in terms of vocal anger on the terraces thus far, it’s mostly coming out on the online forum; the energy certainly feels like it has sapped amongst our hardcore. Our singing here at Hampton certainly lacked gusto, having as much vocal power and harmony as a playgroup carol concert comprising only the very shyest and tone-deaf of toddlers.
As we’ve said about eight thousand times before, “we looked good in the first half, but…”. As at Weston, a very early lead was ours, Sammy Igoe tapping a free-kick to Lee Peacock who unleashed a furious shot that took a slight deflection and sailed over Hampton keeper Matt Lovett. On the half hour, the lead was doubled when Lovett got his substantial frame in front of Ollie ‘Oi’ Palmer’s poked effort, but Scott Jones a.k.a. Jesus (the long-hair + surname combo meant, nickname wise, blasphemy was the only way we could go) was on hand to bounce a shot off the turf and over the now prostrate keeper. Perry Ryan also hit the post with a long range shot to add to our confidence levels.
Once again the half-time team-talk appeared to go along the lines of “well, I’d take it easy now, they look terrible”, and given Hampton are currently acting as entrenched foundations to the rest of the Conference South’s structure, one might well have assumed that all their morale had now vanished. A goal early in the second half for the home side sorted all that out, especially with it being such a fine one. Frankly it looked like Maradona in ’86 (the good one not the nawty one), Nathan Collier going through our midfield and defence like a puppy let loose among the Gormley’s on Crosby beach.
Astonishing, and their second effort was also easy on the eye, James Simmonds unleashing a well judged lob that left Lyall Beasley grabbing for air like a trapeze artist with timing problems. Happily we responded well to this set-back, re-establishing a lead within three minutes as Jon Macdonald’s long throw was met by Ollie Palmer’s scalp, the ball looping from it over a stranded Matt Lovett.
To put three past Lovett is a rare treat, as he’s been fantastic against us over the years and such a genial presence in terms of responding to behind-the-goal banter that he’s a popular figure amongst us without ever having played for us. Paul Bastock, formerly of St Albans City, was similarly feted.
So when Lovett’s knee-injury flared up, causing him to go down unchallenged twice in quick succession, he left the field warmly applauded not only by the Hampton fans, but equally so by our collective. The upshot of this was that Hampton, without a sub keeper on the bench, had to put a gangly outfield player in goal. Yet in the fifteen minutes he was on the field, he was never tested, and this came back to bite us, although it took Hampton three bites at the cherry.
Firstly a goal was chalked off for offside, then Lyall Beasley was required to save a penalty. Finally in the lengthy extra period caused by Lovett’s injury double, a Hawk clearance was smashed straight into the referee, the rebound falling kindly for Hampton who were able to work their way easily through our defence again, and score comfortably. Unless you have ref’s watching from a television monitor at the side of the pitch, there’s always the risk they’ll get in the way if you decide to wallop it at them. Certainly doesn’t mean you should wave the opposition through afterwards.
If one has to take the positives from the game, it is that Ollie Palmer has now scored three in three since signing with us and his partnership up front with Scott Jones looks like it has potential. It reminded me a bit of the days we had James Taylor and Jamie O’Rourke up front, and if they can be half as fruitful as that double-act, then that’ll be something to keep the home fires burning.
However our real problems lie in defence. Scoring three away from home is always good but not if you’re thinking, “mmm, I think we really need 4 or 5 here” against the team lying bottom of the division. I’d like to say the only way is up, but it isn’t, the relegation places are chomping away like hungry mouths, and we are the tasty morsel that is hanging directly above them.
Previously, on dubSteps
11sep10: Hampton & Richmond Borough 0 Havant & Waterlooville 1
15mar08: Hampton & Richmond Borough 1 Havant & Waterlooville 1
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Havant & Waterlooville 1 Bromley 2
08oct11
Conference South
Westleigh Park, Havant
att. 766
After Wes Fogden had been with us about a year, the disreputable organ before you wrote the following about him:
That was the love that was altogether rather keen to speak its name, and it’s not really stopped rabbiting about him since, with Wes winning Player of the Month and Year trophies so often he’s had to have the floorboards reinforced beneath his mantelpiece.
This site is rarely pleased with itself, but if we were to blow a trumpet reveille in our own honour, it would be to signal that the paragraph quoted above sums up Wes, our Wes, rather nicely. As a jinksy midfielder bubbling with effort, and dripping with élan, he would receive a great deal of less-than-artistic defensive attention and was kicked up in the air so many times as to resemble an attempt on the hacky-sack world record.
Despite this he would never turn round and aim his studs at the defensive spuds, never grabbed a throat, and it’s just as well he never tried to go nose-to-nose with anyone as he might well have had their eye out. Which is almost certainly a red card offence. However, Wes remained as clean as a Christian rock band’s repertoire.
However, Wes has now gone. Left us for pastures new. Happily though, this has been in the very best of circumstances. We must be grateful that the radar used by Football League clubs to track young players that dropped back into the semi-pro game was clearly on the blink for two-and-a-half years, but now that it’s back working, Wes has been elevated to League One, taken as an emergency loan by AFC Bournemouth with a transfer to follow in the next window.
Now that he has gone, we are detoxing. The high held over into the first half of this game but, sadly, if ever a second half was like a crack comedown, it was this one. With Craig Braham-Barrett also pulling up with a groin injury in this post-Fogden world, our side looked about as a pacey as a milk-float going over freshly-laid tar. However the first half was more than decent, taking a one-nil lead into the break courtesy of Ollie Palmer’s first Hawk goal. As the ball bounced in front of the keeper Tommy Forecast, Ollie Ollie Ollie was quick to react and poked it between both hands and legs before the man in gloves could claim control of it.
So far I have neglected to mention the other parts of our eventful week. Firstly, it was my good terrace chum Mark’s 50th birthday and we observed the happy occasion by taking over the West Leigh Park hospitality suite, occasionally sharing the space with players of the present, and those of the distant past. Indeed, losing a hero to challenges much higher up the pyramid this week, it was perhaps fitting that late-80’s/early 90’s Waterlooville FC legend Paul Moody, who went on to play for Southampton, Oxford, Fulham and Millwall should also be in said suite for a visit.
A knock on effect of our party making a bit more sartorial effort than usual given the celebratory circumstances was that it may have appeared, from a distance, that our behind the goal collective had hung up a large Reservoir Dogs poster in place of the usual flags.
So far, so fair enough, in terms of our news, but possibly the biggest surprise of the week was that, hearing our club was once again being picked up by that Football League radar, we took the currently club-less Vincent Pericard in from the streets for shelter, and a short-term deal, as he aims to impress sufficiently to get another pro contract. This is a player with a bizarre career trajectory.
He has known Champions League football with Juventus (albeit very briefly), Championship-winning with Portsmouth, Premier League action with Stoke and, well, the inside of Her Majesty’s Prison Exeter. After being caught speeding in 2007, he tried to suggest his Dad had been in the car when , in fact, he’d not been in the country, earning five weeks porridge for his, err, oversight.
By the time we introduced him onto the field of play, our lead had vanished – and rapidly. In the early seconds of the 56th minute, we were one up. As the 57th approached the 58th, we were 2-1 down, our defence looking so woozy as to suggest they had been blindsided by an evil anaesthetist prior to Bromley’s attacking frenzy.
Given our position in the table, we had to go for it, putting three up front, but with the gigantic triumvirate of Peacock, Palmer and, now, Pericard more about power than precision, it was never going to be pretty. It wasn’t and Bromley were certainly worthy of their suckerpunch win, Lyall Beasley being far busier than his Kentish counterpart.
Indeed, had Pericard made an instant impression, five levels below where he was at just three years ago with Stoke, and snatched a point for us, I would argue that this would have been harsh on Bromley; perverted the course of justice, if you will.
Although Vince does have form in this area, today it was not to be.
Conference South
Westleigh Park, Havant
att. 766
After Wes Fogden had been with us about a year, the disreputable organ before you wrote the following about him:
“Despite apparently being named after a minor character in Last of the Summer Wine and having such an enthusiastic proboscis you could spear a bison with it; he has fast become a terrace favourite. He has a Willo-the-Wisp-ish gait with the ball at his feet which means he draws the brutish kicks of brick-faced opposition doggers like a magnet drags iron-filings round a bit of paper. However he just keeps getting up like a bionic man, ignoring the bruises to be involved in a great many of the chances we create.”
- Welling vs. Havant & ‘Ville, March 2010
That was the love that was altogether rather keen to speak its name, and it’s not really stopped rabbiting about him since, with Wes winning Player of the Month and Year trophies so often he’s had to have the floorboards reinforced beneath his mantelpiece.
This site is rarely pleased with itself, but if we were to blow a trumpet reveille in our own honour, it would be to signal that the paragraph quoted above sums up Wes, our Wes, rather nicely. As a jinksy midfielder bubbling with effort, and dripping with élan, he would receive a great deal of less-than-artistic defensive attention and was kicked up in the air so many times as to resemble an attempt on the hacky-sack world record.
Despite this he would never turn round and aim his studs at the defensive spuds, never grabbed a throat, and it’s just as well he never tried to go nose-to-nose with anyone as he might well have had their eye out. Which is almost certainly a red card offence. However, Wes remained as clean as a Christian rock band’s repertoire.
However, Wes has now gone. Left us for pastures new. Happily though, this has been in the very best of circumstances. We must be grateful that the radar used by Football League clubs to track young players that dropped back into the semi-pro game was clearly on the blink for two-and-a-half years, but now that it’s back working, Wes has been elevated to League One, taken as an emergency loan by AFC Bournemouth with a transfer to follow in the next window.
Now that he has gone, we are detoxing. The high held over into the first half of this game but, sadly, if ever a second half was like a crack comedown, it was this one. With Craig Braham-Barrett also pulling up with a groin injury in this post-Fogden world, our side looked about as a pacey as a milk-float going over freshly-laid tar. However the first half was more than decent, taking a one-nil lead into the break courtesy of Ollie Palmer’s first Hawk goal. As the ball bounced in front of the keeper Tommy Forecast, Ollie Ollie Ollie was quick to react and poked it between both hands and legs before the man in gloves could claim control of it.
So far I have neglected to mention the other parts of our eventful week. Firstly, it was my good terrace chum Mark’s 50th birthday and we observed the happy occasion by taking over the West Leigh Park hospitality suite, occasionally sharing the space with players of the present, and those of the distant past. Indeed, losing a hero to challenges much higher up the pyramid this week, it was perhaps fitting that late-80’s/early 90’s Waterlooville FC legend Paul Moody, who went on to play for Southampton, Oxford, Fulham and Millwall should also be in said suite for a visit.
A knock on effect of our party making a bit more sartorial effort than usual given the celebratory circumstances was that it may have appeared, from a distance, that our behind the goal collective had hung up a large Reservoir Dogs poster in place of the usual flags.
He has known Champions League football with Juventus (albeit very briefly), Championship-winning with Portsmouth, Premier League action with Stoke and, well, the inside of Her Majesty’s Prison Exeter. After being caught speeding in 2007, he tried to suggest his Dad had been in the car when , in fact, he’d not been in the country, earning five weeks porridge for his, err, oversight.
By the time we introduced him onto the field of play, our lead had vanished – and rapidly. In the early seconds of the 56th minute, we were one up. As the 57th approached the 58th, we were 2-1 down, our defence looking so woozy as to suggest they had been blindsided by an evil anaesthetist prior to Bromley’s attacking frenzy.
Given our position in the table, we had to go for it, putting three up front, but with the gigantic triumvirate of Peacock, Palmer and, now, Pericard more about power than precision, it was never going to be pretty. It wasn’t and Bromley were certainly worthy of their suckerpunch win, Lyall Beasley being far busier than his Kentish counterpart.
Indeed, had Pericard made an instant impression, five levels below where he was at just three years ago with Stoke, and snatched a point for us, I would argue that this would have been harsh on Bromley; perverted the course of justice, if you will.
Although Vince does have form in this area, today it was not to be.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Havant & Waterlooville 4 Sholing 1
01oct11
FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Westleigh Park, Havant
att. 370
Upon the announcement of the 2nd qualifying round draw, the news that Havant & ‘Ville had been drawn at home to Sholing was met with eyes darting side-to-side, fingernails being torn at by agitated teeth, knees knocking like honeymoon suite bedposts against a partition wall.
To give an indication of our confidence of late, this was us reacting to being drawn AT HOME to a team stationed TWO DIVISIONS BELOW our own. However, it was perhaps not helped by the fact that Sholing have form against us. Three years ago, they defeated us 5-2 in the Hampshire Senior Cup.
We may have turned out a few Academy players in that roundly conquered XI, and no longer take the county competition as seriously as we once did, but the result was nonetheless a humiliation. Thankfully, Sholing do not have a huge body of support to call on to lord it over us on message boards and the like. In fact, they weren’t called Sholing at the time, but VTFC (having morphed through Woolston Works, Thornycrofts (Woolston) and Vosper Thornycroft as noms de guerre).
The fact they have finally left their roots as a shipbuilding works side behind, handle-wise, and adopted an actual place name is indicative that they are clearly appealing to the local population to come out of hiding and get behind them. Indeed, given that Sholing lies in what one might call Greater Southampton, that they have recently swapped their traditional colours of yellow and blue for red and white stripes displays such a flagrant need to be liked, they might as well have screen printed a big picture of a puppy’s face over the shirt n’ all.
Now, being a man who lives a heady rock n’ roll lifestyle, I went to watch Sholing, as VTFC, play at Horndean in the Wessex League a couple of years ago. Before that fixture my friend-in-terraces Mr Ketchup, reported that while they had rounded up a lot of Hampshire non-League football’s ‘star-names’, these chaps were at VT largely because their motivation was for a better-than-decent playing wedge and a good, hearty dinner, than testing themselves at the highest level possible. Basically, I was left to expect the playing shirts, whether yellow n’ blue, red n’ white, or covered in pictures of baby Labradors, to be as well-filled as Santa’s speedos.
Still, big-boned or otherwise, Sholing/VTFC were more than good enough for the Wessex League that year, gaining promotion with a goal difference of +106 (despite even then finishing second to Poole who weren’t eligible for the higher league at that time), and have adapted to life in the Southern League’s South and West division with some aplomb, reaching the Scarf & Vest play-offs last year, ending up only two points behind champions and fellow Sotonians AFC Totton.
As such you can see why, well-bellied they might still be (Kevin Gibbens still leading from the front with his substantial front), that Sholing brought with them a genuine threat to our Cup dreams for the year. However, the confidence gained from our 3-0 win at home to Thurrock and away point at Dover clearly flowed into this performance and, aside from some early wobbles in our own penalty box, it was a lesson in FA Cup banana-skin avoidance.
In the 26th minute, Steve Ramsay met a loose ball to crisply skim the ball into the far corner. Quarter of an hour later, a good bit of work from Sammy Igoe being served to the feet of our captain Peacock who did very well in slamming home a 25-yard shot for his first goal since the opening two minutes of the season.
Six minutes into the second half, the lead was increased further as Ryan Woodford’s shot from an Igoe corner was saved by Sholing keeper Mike Hookway, but the rebound fell nicely for Wes Fogden to tuck the ball inside the near post. Veteran midfielder Igoe, continuing his tremendous run of form, almost capped his performance with a goal but his terse shot in the 64th minute pinged off a post. Again though, the ball fell nicely for us, with Craig Braham-Barrett on hand to slam home our fourth.
At this point we took our feet off the gas a bit, and allowed our latest signing, 6’ 5” striker Ollie Palmer a chance to find his feet, mainly as they are quite some distance from his eyes. He looked pleasingly lively, but those who had started the game had certainly decided to put their already found feet up and read the paper for the remainder. As such, Sholing were able to bag a consolation goal in the 88th minute, Dave Marden knocking home a corner with his head.
We therefore march pretty comfortably forward in this year’s competition and given we’ve now been drawn at home six times in a row in the FA Cup, you’d imagine we might be due an away tie. I wouldn’t chuck another home tie against lower league oppo back in the hat though, certainly.
ADDENDUM
Drawn away to Weston-super-Mare. Exactly the same tie as when we were last draw away in the FA Cup (seven ties, and two years, ago). Not ideal given we've lost there in the league already this season. We won that cup game in 2009 though.
Road To Wembley
F: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1 (att. 89,102)
SF: Liverpool 2 Everton 1 (att. 87,231)
6R: Liverpool 2 Stoke City 1 (att. 43,962)
5R: Crawley Town 0 Stoke City 2 (att. 4,214)
4R: Hull City 0 Crawley Town 1 (att. 14,473)
3R: Crawley Town 1 Bristol City 0 (att. 3,779)
2R: Crawley Town 5 Redbridge 0 (att. 2,494)
1Rr: Oxford City 1 Redbridge 2 [a.e.t.] (att. 1,175)
1R: Redbridge 0 Oxford City 0 (att. 465)
4QR: Weston-super-Mare 2 Oxford City 3 (att. 630)
3QR: Weston-super-Mare 3 Havant & Waterlooville 2 (att. 333)
2QR: Havant & Waterlooville 4 Sholing 1
1QR: Sholing 2 Blackfield & Langley 1 (att. 144)
PR: Sholing 9 Newbury 1 (att. 117)
FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Westleigh Park, Havant
att. 370
Upon the announcement of the 2nd qualifying round draw, the news that Havant & ‘Ville had been drawn at home to Sholing was met with eyes darting side-to-side, fingernails being torn at by agitated teeth, knees knocking like honeymoon suite bedposts against a partition wall.
To give an indication of our confidence of late, this was us reacting to being drawn AT HOME to a team stationed TWO DIVISIONS BELOW our own. However, it was perhaps not helped by the fact that Sholing have form against us. Three years ago, they defeated us 5-2 in the Hampshire Senior Cup.
We may have turned out a few Academy players in that roundly conquered XI, and no longer take the county competition as seriously as we once did, but the result was nonetheless a humiliation. Thankfully, Sholing do not have a huge body of support to call on to lord it over us on message boards and the like. In fact, they weren’t called Sholing at the time, but VTFC (having morphed through Woolston Works, Thornycrofts (Woolston) and Vosper Thornycroft as noms de guerre).
The fact they have finally left their roots as a shipbuilding works side behind, handle-wise, and adopted an actual place name is indicative that they are clearly appealing to the local population to come out of hiding and get behind them. Indeed, given that Sholing lies in what one might call Greater Southampton, that they have recently swapped their traditional colours of yellow and blue for red and white stripes displays such a flagrant need to be liked, they might as well have screen printed a big picture of a puppy’s face over the shirt n’ all.
Now, being a man who lives a heady rock n’ roll lifestyle, I went to watch Sholing, as VTFC, play at Horndean in the Wessex League a couple of years ago. Before that fixture my friend-in-terraces Mr Ketchup, reported that while they had rounded up a lot of Hampshire non-League football’s ‘star-names’, these chaps were at VT largely because their motivation was for a better-than-decent playing wedge and a good, hearty dinner, than testing themselves at the highest level possible. Basically, I was left to expect the playing shirts, whether yellow n’ blue, red n’ white, or covered in pictures of baby Labradors, to be as well-filled as Santa’s speedos.
Still, big-boned or otherwise, Sholing/VTFC were more than good enough for the Wessex League that year, gaining promotion with a goal difference of +106 (despite even then finishing second to Poole who weren’t eligible for the higher league at that time), and have adapted to life in the Southern League’s South and West division with some aplomb, reaching the Scarf & Vest play-offs last year, ending up only two points behind champions and fellow Sotonians AFC Totton.
As such you can see why, well-bellied they might still be (Kevin Gibbens still leading from the front with his substantial front), that Sholing brought with them a genuine threat to our Cup dreams for the year. However, the confidence gained from our 3-0 win at home to Thurrock and away point at Dover clearly flowed into this performance and, aside from some early wobbles in our own penalty box, it was a lesson in FA Cup banana-skin avoidance.
In the 26th minute, Steve Ramsay met a loose ball to crisply skim the ball into the far corner. Quarter of an hour later, a good bit of work from Sammy Igoe being served to the feet of our captain Peacock who did very well in slamming home a 25-yard shot for his first goal since the opening two minutes of the season.
Six minutes into the second half, the lead was increased further as Ryan Woodford’s shot from an Igoe corner was saved by Sholing keeper Mike Hookway, but the rebound fell nicely for Wes Fogden to tuck the ball inside the near post. Veteran midfielder Igoe, continuing his tremendous run of form, almost capped his performance with a goal but his terse shot in the 64th minute pinged off a post. Again though, the ball fell nicely for us, with Craig Braham-Barrett on hand to slam home our fourth.
At this point we took our feet off the gas a bit, and allowed our latest signing, 6’ 5” striker Ollie Palmer a chance to find his feet, mainly as they are quite some distance from his eyes. He looked pleasingly lively, but those who had started the game had certainly decided to put their already found feet up and read the paper for the remainder. As such, Sholing were able to bag a consolation goal in the 88th minute, Dave Marden knocking home a corner with his head.
We therefore march pretty comfortably forward in this year’s competition and given we’ve now been drawn at home six times in a row in the FA Cup, you’d imagine we might be due an away tie. I wouldn’t chuck another home tie against lower league oppo back in the hat though, certainly.
ADDENDUM
Drawn away to Weston-super-Mare. Exactly the same tie as when we were last draw away in the FA Cup (seven ties, and two years, ago). Not ideal given we've lost there in the league already this season. We won that cup game in 2009 though.
Road To Wembley
F: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1 (att. 89,102)
SF: Liverpool 2 Everton 1 (att. 87,231)
6R: Liverpool 2 Stoke City 1 (att. 43,962)
5R: Crawley Town 0 Stoke City 2 (att. 4,214)
4R: Hull City 0 Crawley Town 1 (att. 14,473)
3R: Crawley Town 1 Bristol City 0 (att. 3,779)
2R: Crawley Town 5 Redbridge 0 (att. 2,494)
1Rr: Oxford City 1 Redbridge 2 [a.e.t.] (att. 1,175)
1R: Redbridge 0 Oxford City 0 (att. 465)
4QR: Weston-super-Mare 2 Oxford City 3 (att. 630)
3QR: Weston-super-Mare 3 Havant & Waterlooville 2 (att. 333)
2QR: Havant & Waterlooville 4 Sholing 1
1QR: Sholing 2 Blackfield & Langley 1 (att. 144)
PR: Sholing 9 Newbury 1 (att. 117)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)