Fawsome Afternoon For Hosts - Fawley vs. Bemerton Heath Harlequins

View through the fence at The Aliport Arena

I'd been trying to visit Fawley for a long time now. The first time I tried to visit, the game was called off around two o'clock leading to a mad dash around Southampton to get to Sholing. Then for the start of this season, the club started playing home matches on Friday evenings which made things very difficult and then through December there were the rail strikes. However, this weekend it seemed like all that cleared up and I'd finally be able to visit. Today they were hosting Bemerton Heath Harlequins from Salisbury who I visited a couple of years with my Dad. Going into this game, Fawley were looking to pull away from the bottom of the table while Bemerton were looking to get closer to the promotion places.

Kick off with the refinery in the background

Bemerton suffer an early blow as they are reduced to ten men because of a dangerous tackle but this doesn't stop them having most of the chances. They come desperately close with two chances in very quick succession as a header from a corner is hacked off the line before another close range effort hits the post. They do take the lead with a free kick from the edge of the area that finds the bottom corner. The lead doesn't last however. The Fawley forward is played in on goal who slots the ball past the advancing Bemerton keeper. Both sides have good chances to take the lead before the break. Firstly, the Bemerton defender makes a great block after the Fawley player is found in space at the back post before the Fawley keeper makes a great one on one save with the Bemerton attacker through on goal.

Front advancing over the club buildings in the first half

The second half is fairly uneventful until a frantic last third. The action kick off with a big coming together of both sides that sees a red each produced by the referee. Fawley then take the lead with a close range shot that goes in off the post. Again, a side doesn't hold the lead for long as Bemerton scramble home from a corner. This prompts Fawley to go on the attack and the winger is able to cut inside and fire a low shot past the keeper. Fawley get a fourth late on to seal an entertaining victory.

Sunset in the second half

With the reopening of the Fawley Branch Line still a long way off, you still need to take the number nine bus from just outside Southampton Central to get to just outside the ground. The quickest direct trains to Southampton depart from Waterloo taking about an hour and a half. If you get off the bus a little earlier you can visit The Forest Home that had a couple of Ringwood ales on as well as BT Sports. Around the back of the ground is The Old Mill Inn which has a rural feel and a slightly wider selection of drinks along with the sports channels. Fawley now have a bar at the ground and you can watch the game from the patio just outside. Sadly there was no programme today but it seems like they normally do issue as I got a copy from their previous home game. As you can see from the pictures it is a quite a photogenic ground with a rural feel despite the huge refinery behind one goal, well worth the wait.

Main stand at Fawley