Report: Town 3-1 Southampton |
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Stadium: Galpharm Stadium
Coca Cola League One Game
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Kickoff: 3.00pm
Date: Monday, 17th August 2009
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Southampton came to Town on a summer Saturday afternoon only to be torn ragged by a dominant Town side.
Jordan Rhodes struck twice to take his scoring feat to 5 in 3 games while Antony Kay grabbed his first goal in a Town shirt to put the tie to bed after Rickie Lambert had equalized for the Saints.
Lee Clark decided to stick with virtually the same side that beat Stockport County on Tuesday night in the Carling Cup in a 3-1 win for the Town. The only change was Andy Butler came back in for Nathan Clarke along side captain Peter Clarke at the heart of the defence. Lee Novak kept his place along side the in form Jordan Rhodes, Tom Clarke kept his place in midfield after impressing against Stockport along side Kay
Town started brightly and it was down to Southampton stopper Kelvin Davis that Town were kept at bay in a one-sided first half. The Saints keeper pulled off a fantastic save to deny Lee Novak for his first Town goal and then denying Peter Clarke by diving to push away a fierce shot through a crowded penalty area.
The Saints in the first half weren’t really threatening. Rickie Lambert, once a Town target and recently a £1 million signing, was kept quiet by an impressive Peter Clarke. His strike partner Grzegore Rasiak, recently back from injury, has expressed his desire to leave the Saints and it showed with virtually a non-existing performance. The player that did impressive for the Saints was the experienced goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, who in the summer turned down a move to Premier League West Ham United to stay loyal to Southampton.
In the second half Kelvin Davis once again denied Novak, making a fantastic save to palm the ball over the bar when it seemed Novak would score after a great Town build up involving Gary Roberts.
The deadlock was broken on 50 minutes when the Saints’ experienced defender Chris Perry brought down the hard-working Novak in the box with the referee in no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Jordan Rhodes stepped up and but the ball to the keeper’s right in which Davis couldn’t hold but Rhodes quickly followed up to prod the ball home to put the Terriers in front.
It took only 3 minutes for the Saints to equalize through Rickie Lambert, the only thing his did do through the game, a corner came in from the right in which Lambert managed to get away from Peter Clarke and Butler to thump a header past Alex Smithies to put the Saints on level terms.
Lee Clark would have been happy with the response his men made, Tom Clarke and Antony Kay working tireless again in the heart of midfield.
It was no surprise to who got Town back in front on 68 minutes, a fantastic build up saw a great cross from the left by Anthony Pilkington, Rhodes got away from his marker to plant a header past Davis. Rhodes would leave to a standing ovation from the Town faithful. Gary Roberts being subbed on 73 minutes giving a chance to the new on-loan signing from Manchester United, Danny Drinkwater.
Drinkwater was involved in the third Town goal, his free-kick saw the ball hit the bar from a flick on which led to Antony Kay dispatching the ball into the net with his head from close range.
Sub Theo Robinson could have added to the tally so too Lionel Ainsworth, who squanded a chance after a quick Town break away from a Southampton corner.
I’d also like to mention the linesman down the line of the Britannia Rescue stand with the red and yellow flag, he didn’t know what he was doing half of the time. His flag would be raised slower than a turning tractor then at other times it couldn’t be raised quick enough! Where do the F.A get these people from?
Town looked very impressive and I haven’t seen a Town team dominated a match like that for a while. The summer signings by Lee Clark looks decent up to press, having strikers that can actually score goals. Champagne super (Lee) Novak given time could become a very good striker, his positioning and hard-work can not be questioned.
Sean’s Star Man - Jordan Rhodes I can see why Ipswich Town fans were up in arms about letting their 19-year old prodigy go. Looks a snip at £150,000 plus add-ons if he can continue his scoring feat with 5 goals in 3 games to date.
Teams:
Town: Smithies, Peltier, P Clarke, Butler, Skarz, Pilkington, Kay, T Clarke, Roberts (Drinkwater 73), Novak (Robinson 55), Rhodes (Ainsworth 85)
Subs not used: Glennon, Williams, N Clarke, Berrett
Southampton: Davis, Murty, Thomas, Perry (Lancashire 81), Harding, Schneiderlein (Mellis 54), Wotton, James (Thomson 54), Lallana, Lambert, Rasiak
Subs not used: Bailkowski, Patterson, Gobern, Saganowski
Referee: A Haines (West Midlands)
Attendance: 12,449
Match Report brought to you by,
Sean Makin, www.Terrier-Bytes.com
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