Students Garduate To Fourth Round - Team Solent vs. Bodmin Town

Sun setting behind the stands

It was FA Vase time again and after travelling a fair distance to Portland last round, I stayed a little closer and travelled to Southampton for the tie between Team Solent and Bodmin Town. Team Solent are doing well in The Premier Division of The Wessex League sitting in seventh with games in hand on the teams above them. Team Solent are the first team of Southampton Solent University and are made up of students, alumni, staff and a couple of external players. Bodmin play in The South West Peninsula League where they are in fourth place and although this is a level below Team Solent, it is still a very strong league. This would be the first time I'd seen either side play although while on holiday in Cornwall we did visit Bodmin and the car park in the town centre backs on to their Priory Park ground and I did have a quick look. This was my fifth Vase tie of the season and I'd two home and two away wins and so it would be a hard one to predict. 

Kick off at Test Park

Team Solent make the perfect start when the ball is crossed in and the attacker is able nod home at the back post to put the hosts one nil up. Bodmin almost equalise straight away but the Team Solent keeper is able to make a good save from an effort following a break. It's a really open first period and the Bodmin defence is just about able to clear a dangerous free kick into the box. Then after a Bodmin corner isn't fully cleared, they recycle the ball which leads to a low shot which the keeper is equal to. Bodmin create a great opening when the ball is pulled back from close to the byline but there is no one there to take advantage. The open nature of the game continues as it is then Team Solent who are able to break out and following a similar pull back, a shot on goal is blocked by the Bodmin defence. In the closing stages of the half Bodmin think they have a shout for a penalty that is waved away by the referee.

The Team Solent defender blocks a Bodmin effort on goal

Bodmin go on the attack straight away in the second half and the Team Solent defence is able to block an effort on goal after the Bodmin forward took on a couple of a players on the edge of the area. Team Solent then play themselves in via a cross field pass and the Bodmin keeper makes a great save with his legs from the resulting effort on goal. Bodmin are having a lot of the ball without really threatening the Team Solent goal. The closest they come in this period is when a free kick is sent into the box which is headed just wide. The Bodmin forward then finds himself in a dangerous position and the Team Solent defence is relived to see the shot bend wide of the target. Team Solent think they've sealed the tie when the attacker is able to get his head to a cross at the near post but the Bodmin keeper produces an amazing save. Team Solent see out the rest of the game to reach the fourth round.

Bodmin look for the equaliser in the second half

To get to Test Park, I opted to travel to Redbridge Station which requires you to take a train to either Southampton Central or Eastleigh and change there for the hourly service to Redbridge. The walk from here to Test Park takes about half an hour. Alternatively you could get off at Southampton Central and catch on the frequents buses to Kendal Avenue which is a short walk from the ground. Close to Redbridge Station is The Ship Inn and The Anchor which are both friendly locals with good selection of beers. Around the corner from the ground is The Saints Pub which is perfect for the early kick off and if Bush Hill are at home in The Hampshire League you can see the ground from the pub. The bar at the ground did the job and also had the sports channels. I can fully recommend the bacon rolls from the tea hut.

Another view of the stands at Test Park