Southampton 2 United 2 (Southampton won 5-3 on pens)
Attendance 9,319 (530 away)
So, so unlucky. United at times looked much more like the League 1 side in this pulsating Johnstone's Paint Trophy match. A two goal lead was ultimately surrendered but that would actually be harsh on the Gulls who gave as good as they got from the moment they took the lead through Tim Sills in the 22nd minute. Southampton will be a relieved team and will know they were taken to the brink after the match went a penalty shoot-out. The United players should be very proud of their performance tonight but all attention now moves to Notts County and their Sunday evening clash.
Paul Buckle made four changes to the team that drew with Bury at the weekend: Scott Bevan, Kieran Charnock, Tyrone Thompson & Tim Sills all returned to starting action with Michael Poke (not eligible), Chris Hargreaves (rested), Danny Stevens & Wayne Carlisle, who both took a place on the bench.
United were operating with three centre backs and Lee Mansell & Kevin Nicholson providing the width. Tim Sills was joined in a front three by Scott Rendell & Elliot Benyon which left Tyrone Thompson to partner Nicky Wroe in the centre of midfield.
Not surprisingly, Southampton started the brighter but the first incident of note was a thumping tackle in the second minute by Kieran Charnock on Hammond which left the Southampton player in a heap halfway inside the Gull's half.
Bevan was forced into a smart save by N'Diaye in the sixth minute from close range and from the rebound Antonio hit a wild shot out for a throw-in! During the early stages United were conceding plenty of territory to their hosts and weren't seeing a great deal of the ball but that was maybe to be expected and for all of those factors the home side certainly weren't cutting any swathes through the Gulls' defence.
United were gradually creeping their way into the match and after a succession of throw-ins down the left Kevin Nicholson found himself with another throw level with the Southampton six yard box. The ball hung in the air for an age and Saint's 'keeper Kelvin Davis tried to come through a wall of players to punch the ball but completely misjudged his attempt. The ball then looked to hit 'skipper for the night' Tim Sills on the back and bobble into an empty net. It wasn't pretty and it was against the run of play but you will take whatever is coming on United's current winless run!
Goal: Southampton 0 United 1 (Sills 22)
United looked reasonably comfortable in the spell immediately after the goal and the next two attempts at goal both came from United; a header from Sills and a 30 yard free-kick from Nicky Wroe as United looked the better side around the half hour mark.
Llyod James was booked for a cynical late tackle on Nicky Wroe in the 33rd minute as the United broke from a Saint's corner; the home side were getting just a little fidgety as United refused to crumble before them.
United were well in this game and four minutes before half-time they doubled their lead; a superb tackle from Mark Ellis just outside his own area released Tim Sills who held the ball up before and waited for support from Lee Mansell. The United defender/midfielder carried the ball across the pitch before slipping a superbly weighted ball into the path of Tyrone Thompson who rounded the onrushing Kelvin Davies and was then tripped by the Saint's 'keeper. Amazingly, the referee only booked Davis but he did award a penalty which was duly despatched by Nicky Wroe, sending Davis the wrong way.
Goal: Southampton 0 United 2 (Wroe 41, pen)
United go into the break two goals up, it was going to be an interesting second period.
Half-time: Southampton 0 United 2
No changes at the break for United but Saint's boss Alan Pardew made a double change to try and affect a comeback. Despite the changes by the home side there was no obvious change to the pattern of the game as the second half began and United were holding their own although you felt they were bound to have to contend with sustained pressure from Southampton at some point.
United's first goal had been slightly fortuitous and the favour was repaid just before the hour mark. A free-kick was awarded to the home side on the angle of United's area down the right, the kick was aimed toward the far post and after a scramble an attempted clearance by the Chris Robertson struck N'Diaye on the shin and rebounded past Bevan from four yards out. Game on
Goal: Southampton 1 (N'Diaye 59) United 2
The match certainly had an end to end feel about it now with Southampton piling forward and United looking dangerous on the break at times although they were a little wasteful at times when in some very encouraging positions. The pressure on United eventually told and it was another scrappy goal; from open play United were having to withstand a barrage of crosses from the Saints and it was one too many. N'Diaye found himself tangling with Mark Ellis six yards out and another lucky bounce gave him the opportunity to stab the ball home with Bevan doing his forlorn best to block the ball.
Goal: Southampton 2 (N'Diaye 69) United 2
Nicky Wroe has tried it before and he almost achieved it this time with an audacious shot from just inside the Southampton half which left Davis backtracking toward his goal and eventually an injured heap entangled in his own net but sadly the ball bounced a yard wide of the goal.
Bucks now made two changes and United reverted to their usual 4-4-2 formation with Carlisle & Stevens on the wings.
Subs: Rendell off Carlisle on, Charnock off Stevens on both 73 mins.
Southampton should have taken the lead in the 76th minute and it was United old boy Wayne Thomas who headed wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy. A let off for the Gulls and could they make the home side pay?
Surprisingly, since their equalizer, Southampton's main attacking option seemed to be midfielder Paul Wotton trying to shoot from any & everywhere with little success. United should have taken the lead again with nine minutes left when Thompson provided a perfect pass for Elliot Benyon to latch onto but in a similar position to his goal against bury the United forward this slipped his shot wide of the far post. Moments later the home side hit the crossbar from a corner as both sides' spurned chances to wrap up the win.
With two minutes left for play a corner from the right by Kevin Nicholson was met at the far post by Mark Ellis who had a clear header at goal but he sent it over Davis's crossbar to the frustration of the travelling Gulls' support. United put in a real team performance with Mark Ellis again proving his worth at the heart of the Gulls' defence. More of the same please at the weekend.
Full-Time: Southampton 2 United 2
Penalty shoot-out:
Southampton: (Lambert) scored 1-0
United: (Wroe) scored 1-1
Southampton: (N'Diaye) scored 2-1
United: (Robertson) scored 2-2
Southampton: (James) scored 3-2
United: (Nicholson) missed (saved) 3-2
Southampton: (Mills) scored 4-2
United: (Mansell) scored 4-3
Southampton: (Wotton) scored 5-3
Southampton wins 5-3 on penalties.
