Plane Makers Fly Away With Three Points - Folland Sports vs. Horndean

Autumn sunshine at Folland Park. Note the plane in the background.

This weekend I was visiting Southampton with friends and I therefore took the opportunity to travel down the Hampshire coast to Hamble for The Wessex Premier League match between Folland Sports and Horndean. Folland Sports were known as GE Hamble up to last season and this name came from the local plane factory - hence the plane in the picture above. Both teams were comfortably in mid table and the home side were looking for a quick response following a couple of disappointing results which included exiting the FA Vase at the hands of local rivals Sholing.

Kick off in bright autumn sunshine

The first incident of note is the Folland winger cutting inside close to the box but he lacks support and the move breaks down. Horndean then come close as a ball down the middle splits the Folland defence but the effort is deflected wide. The visitors then come even closer as a header from the resulting corner goes just over the bar. The visitors come close again as following a long throw and the Horndean player puts his effort too close to the keeper. The home side then create the best chance of the game so far as the forward gets to the byline and pulls a pass back to the on rushing striker who subsequently puts his effort just wide. Folland take the lead with their next attack as the centre forward controls the ball and slots the ball home from close range. Horndean then create a good chance to equalise but the Folland defender makes a great last ditch tackle. The Horndean keeper then almost gifts Folland a second as he gives the ball away but the home side can't take the chance. They do grab a second as a ball down the middle puts the striker clear and he makes no mistake. 

Wooded, dugout side of the pitch

The home side almost extended their lead at the start of the second half as they have a header cleared off the line. Horndean are then almost played in but the Folland defence makes another decent last ditch tackle. The visitors then begin to have most of the ball as they look to get back in to the game and they fail to take advantage of a mistake by the home keeper. Then following a Horndean corner, a long range effort bounces just wide. The Horndean centre forward then wriggles free in the box after turning the defender but puts his effort high and wide. The visitors are then made to pay for those missed chances as the centre forward powers home following a driven ball in to the box. Despite this Horndean still push forward and the Folland keeper is sold short by a weak back header but he just manages to beat the Horndean forward to the ball. Horndean then have another long range effort which is dragged wide and the home side see out the rest of the game.

The Folland winger bursts forward in the first half. 

There are no direct trains from London to Hamble. You have to take a train from Waterloo to Southampton Central and change there for a train to Hamble. There is only one train an hour to Hamble and the journey takes around two hours. The ground is then a ten minute walk from Hamble Station. Within sight of the ground is The Harrier Inn which was very welcoming but unfortunately appears to be in danger of being knocked down. I didn't have enough time to wander in to the village itselfs but it looks like there are several other pubs in the village. The clubhouse was very big and had Sky Sports along with the usual selection of drinks.

Another great programme from a step five club. There were detailed history's of both sides and pen pics of the home team. The programme also included one of the most impressive quizzes I've seen in a programme at any level!

Both sides struggled with the bright sun in the first half