First League Game - Liss Athletic vs. Hamble Club

Watching from the trees at Newman Collard Playing Fields

After a month or so of friendlies I was pleased to get back to league action. After reading that the Hampshire Premier League was starting a week earlier then most other leagues, I looked through the fixtures to pick my first league match of the new season. I opted for Liss Athletic who were hosting last seasons champions Hamble Club. The hosts had finished third bottom last season and a 4-0 win over Wessex League Fareham suggested things could be different this season. I have been to Hamble itself before, to see Folland Sports and there were a number of other pitches at the complex so I don't know if that's where Hamble Club play.

Start of the 2015-16 league season

Hamble won the last game of the previous season 11-0 and it looks like they want to repeat the trick as they attack from the off. They have a couple of early chances which fail to test the keeper but it isn't long before they do take the lead. The attacker is able to get to the byline and his cut back is lashed in from close range. They make it two when a long bouncing ball forward isn't dealt with and the forward powers the ball home. Liss' first chance when the attacker is able to force a shot on goal after a free kick but the keeper is able to make a smart save. Hamble continue to create chances as they look to extend their lead but they are unable to take any of them. They are nearly made to pay for not extending their lead when the Hamble keeper misses a corner and he is indebted to his defender who blocks the resulting shot on the line. It is then Hamble's turn to have an effort cleared off the line following a corner. In the closing stages of the half, the Liss striker is played in but he unfortunately fails to hit the target.

The Hamble keeper misses a corner

Hamble continue attacking in the second half and a couple of efforts go just wide. They come closer when the attacker goes on a mazy run and his shot is tipped over by the Liss keeper. The visitors then have a couple of free kicks which the home defence are able to keep out. Liss are still very much in the game and Hamble are given a reminder of this when the forward is allowed a free header from a corner and the Hamble goalie makes a good save. Hamble make the game safe when the right winger is able to cut inside and after his intial effort is blocked, he puts the second in to the net via the back. In the end a decent win for the champions but had Liss taken their chances it could have been a different story.

A Hamble throw in in front of the trees

In theory the train journey from Waterloo to Liss should only take around an hour and fifteen minutes but unfortunately for me, due to signalling problems, it took over two hours. Therefore I didn't get to spend as much time in Liss as I'd liked. About half way in between the station and the ground is The Whistle Stop which had Sky Sports and a couple of ales. It also has a table tennis table if fancy a game before a match. The ground is a steady ten minute walk from the station and as you can see it is very photogenic. The clubhouse at the ground sells cans and offers an elevated view of the pitch.  

Elevated view behind the goal