Otterbourne Football Club 1st Team Match Report

Saturday 21st January – Otterbourne FC 2 QK Southampton 1

By Ken Babey & Steve Harrod
Oakwood Park, Otterbourne

Otterbourne were back to full strength after last weekend’s debacle and knew it was going to be a tough game.

QK started well against the wind and showed potential to overrun the home side even in the blustery conditions and on a pitch which was in need of some repair.

It was as early as the 10th minute when they were awarded a throw in. Dan Smith received the ball, then took it to the dead ball line and sent a cross over the keeper where Ben Penfold was on hand to beat the defender to the ball and put it in the net to make it 1-0 to QK.

Although the Otters’ defence was coping well, QK kept up the pressure but could not make it tell. Then in the 21st minute a defensive error cost QK dearly. Otterbourne keeper Flood sent the ball forward and the QK defender just seemed to let his man go past him. John Allen was the man to volley the ball past the keeper and into the net for the home side to draw level.

Otters were causing QK some issues on the break with the lively Stagg getting forward when he could. West and Judd were breaking up play as much as they could with Spreadbury spraying some intelligent balls out to the wings. Although QK took the game forward but could not make the final ball tell.

The second half started very lively and it was all QK. With the wind behind them they seemed to have a new lease of life but the Otters keeper Flood was on top form and saved them on numerous occasions, saving point blank and stretching to tip shots over the bar.

With all the Otters defenders putting their bodies on the line to stop QK from getting a clean strike in the box eventually they relieved the pressure, a ball out to Milne was knocked into Spreadbury’s path his return to Milne was perfect and the QK keeper pulled off a blinding save. Allen then had a chance when given the ball from Beasley but poked the ball past the keeper and just past the post.

The visitors tried everything to score but were denied time and time again. It looked like the game was going to end honours even then in the 88th minute, after another defensive error, Milne popped up to fire the home side in front. Try as they may, QK could not make the breakthrough and the game ended with a good victory for Otterbourne and QK were left to lick their wounds yet again.

To be fair to QK they probably deserved the victory but for once this season we got the luck our recent form deserved and with a few others joining the cause I hope we will have a strong second half of the season.