Damage in the Box!: VT FC (VT Sports Ground)

The second leg of my weekend double took me to the outskirts of Southampton and the Vosper Thorneycroft Group Sports Ground, the home of VT FC. Today they were playing Bridgwater Town as they set about their task of playing six games in ten days (imagine the uproar if Man Ure, Chelski or the Red Shite were forced to do that!). Today was also both teams second match in 24 hours, both winning 4-0 away from home on Saturday. It would be safe to assume fatigue would play a part today!

The ground was pretty easy to find, being just off the M27, and on entering it is not hard to be completely underwhelmed. Dont get me wrong, the ground is neat and tidy and very well maintained, but there is no 'wow' factor as it is basically a meccano job with an arena stand and terrace, the only compromise to character are a few trees along the perimeter fence.

Today was an important game for both sides as they both look to consolidate a place in the end of season play offs, but with games in hand it would be safe to say both VT and Bridgwater should make it.

As it turned it out, fatigue did play a part as the game was rather lacklustre. The bone hard surface and hot conditions didn't help much either as the ball was difficult to control on the bouncy surface. Both teams seemed to get around this by simply playing the long ball game.

The first chance of the half fell to The Boatmen after 7 minutes but Kevin Brewster's shot came back off the crossbar, but it was Bridgwater who took the lead after 26 minutes when the ball was lofted into the area and Matt Graham put the ball into his own net. The Robins had a great chance to extend their lead just before half time when Steve Orchard was tripped in the box, but Chris Young's tame penalty was easily saved. Bridgwater probably shaded the first half and just about deserved their lead.

The game was effectively over 90 seconds into the second when Young made amends for his penalty miss by crashing a superb volley into the top corner of the net. Bridgwater were content to sit back on what they had and VT never really troubled them until, out of the blue, Justin Porter was harshly adjudged to have handled in his own box (the ball bounced up and hit him and he really couldn't get out of the way) and The Boatmen had a lifeline, but this was not taken as Brewster blazed the penalty high over the crossbar. The game just fizzled out and the win confirmed The Robins' place in the play offs. VT meanwhile will have to wait a wee while.