MAC WIPES OUT RESERVES
MAC WIPES OUT RESERVES
MAC WIPES OUT RESERVES
IVAN GOLAC returned to the defence as unbeaten Saints Reserves took on West Ham Reserves in the Football Combination at The Dell this afternoon, anxious to avenge last Saturday's 3-2 defeat by the first team.
TEAMS Southampton: Kite, Golac, Rofe, Collins, P. Baker, Blankley, Brown, S. Baker, Baird, Juryeff, Rosegreen; sub Dixon.
West Ham: Vaughan, Spiers, Brush, Donald, McPherson, Orr, Parr, Matthews, Whitton, McMenemy, Parris; sub. Mays.
Referee: Mr B. M. Burns (Chandler's Ford).
Saints got off to a disastrous start, going 2-0 down within 11 minutes.
First team regular Steve Whitton, back after injury, punished two cardinal errors by the home side.
The first came after just three minutes. Barry Blankley was caught in possession by the burly West Ham forward near goal and Whitton went on to calmly slot the ball between Kite and his right-hand post.
Eight minutes later, A Steve Baker mistake in midfield was latched onto by Whitton, who curled the ball beautifully past the diving Kite and in off the right-hand post into the back of the net.
Saints began to step up the pressure and in the 25th minute, Juryeff headed over from eight yards. Baird felt he should have had a penalty after he went down on the edge of the area following a tackle in the 25th minute. A minute later his name went in to the referee's notebook for what appeared to be dissent.
The young Saints eventually clawed their way back into the match when the unmarked Mark Rosegreen gave Vaughan no chance with a header from eight yards, a splendid move by the home team down the right-wing.
Saints gained further confidence and in the 39th and 40th minutes, Juryeff twice went close.
But West Ham stretched their lead a minute before half-time when McMenemy cracked in a shot from the edge of the area to leave his uncle's club trailing 3-1 at the break. Half-time: Saints Res............................1 West Ham res......................3