Game 1: Salisbury City 0.3 Southampton (Friendly) 15.07.08

With England out of Euro 2008, the start of the preseason friendlies couldn't come quickly enough. During the day there was a lot of cloud and some rain but by the time Andy and I arrived at the Ray Mac the sun was out and there was not a cloud in the sky!



We had left about 15 minutes spare before kickoff but the late confirmation of a full strength 1st team squad rather than the usual reserve team meant that the queue at the turnstile stretched back to the clubshop. Luckily it moved on pretty quickly and it only took us around 5 minutes to get onto the terraces. Trying to recognise some of the players was a little more difficult, even when the announcer confirmed that there were some teamsheets available during the first half. The final attendance was confirmed as 1387.




Salisbury looked up for the game and Feeney in particular was causing Saints some problems down the left side. Matt Tubbs had a shot well saved but Saints were able to deal with the set pieces without their keeper having to much to do. Some of the tackles were a little strong for the Championship players and there was a flashpoint mid way though the half when a couple of players bundled in and got a bit too aggressive. Luckily the referee was quickly on hand to stop it from escalating. The game appeared to be heading to a stalemate at halftime when Jason Euell strolled forward with the ball and hit it along the ground, across Bittner and into the net just next to the right hand post. Salisbury created one late chance from a corner but Matt Robinson headed the ball into the side netting.



In the second half, Southampton brought on some of their younger squad members and started to play with a bit more pace and guile. If the finishing had been better then Salisbury would have been 5 or 6 down but a combination of shots overhit over the bar and some superb saves from Bittner kept the score at 0.1. Salisbury also brought on some subs at halftime but seemed to be causing fewer problems to the opposition keeper.


After 74 minutes, Wright-Phillips ignored the 'Thief' chants and accelerated from the edge of the box and past the defence to slot the ball past Bittner for 0.2. In the second minute of injury time, McGoldrick beat the offside trap to run onto a through ball. Bittner managed to trap the ball when he took a close range shot but couldn't keep hold of it. McGoldrick then took it past the keeper and smashed it into the roof of the net from the goalline.