I've always had a major love affair with the FA Cup. It is, of course, the greatest competition in world club football and will remain so for a very long time. Starting from the Extra Preliminary Round, all the way through to the Wembley final in May, the FA Cup, or the FA Challenge Cup as it's also known, has a special feeling about each and every fixture.
Today was one of those days. Having watched Bashley dumped out of the competition at the Preliminary Round stage a couple of weeks ago, it was onto the First Qualifying Round this afternoon for AFC Totton vs Swindon Supermarine. As the mighty Bash had a free weekend due to us no longer being involved in the 2014/15 version of the infamous cup, it provided me with good opportunity to make the third stage of the competition, and keep up my 100% round record for the campaign so far (I've watched games now in the Extra Preliminary, Preliminary and 1st Qualifying rounds this year), as well as ticking off the 24th ground of my travels.
It was off then to Testwood Stadium for this one, with the hosts coming into the game having beaten Gillingham Town 2-0 just two weeks ago on the same ground at the last hurdle. Visitors Supermarine had also come through a home tie against lower league opposition in the previous round, beating Hallen by a single goal to nil. It's worth noting of course, that when Supermarine last visited the Testwood Stadium, just a few weeks ago in the Southern South and West Division, they were comprehensively beaten 6-1. Food for thought.
My day began as it so often will on the train from New Milton, before departing at Southampton Central and boarding the number 12 bus to Totton. Being so clued up when it comes to travelling, I de-bused about two stops too early leaving me with my average twenty minute walk to the ground. On arrival, having spotted the main stand through the trees on the side of the road, I navigated my way round to the open turnstile and gained access using my newly acquired scouting pass for this fixture. Unfortunately, it's not really a pass of sorts, merely a printed out email, but I had to spice that little anecdote up somehow.
Today was one of those days. Having watched Bashley dumped out of the competition at the Preliminary Round stage a couple of weeks ago, it was onto the First Qualifying Round this afternoon for AFC Totton vs Swindon Supermarine. As the mighty Bash had a free weekend due to us no longer being involved in the 2014/15 version of the infamous cup, it provided me with good opportunity to make the third stage of the competition, and keep up my 100% round record for the campaign so far (I've watched games now in the Extra Preliminary, Preliminary and 1st Qualifying rounds this year), as well as ticking off the 24th ground of my travels.
It was off then to Testwood Stadium for this one, with the hosts coming into the game having beaten Gillingham Town 2-0 just two weeks ago on the same ground at the last hurdle. Visitors Supermarine had also come through a home tie against lower league opposition in the previous round, beating Hallen by a single goal to nil. It's worth noting of course, that when Supermarine last visited the Testwood Stadium, just a few weeks ago in the Southern South and West Division, they were comprehensively beaten 6-1. Food for thought.
My day began as it so often will on the train from New Milton, before departing at Southampton Central and boarding the number 12 bus to Totton. Being so clued up when it comes to travelling, I de-bused about two stops too early leaving me with my average twenty minute walk to the ground. On arrival, having spotted the main stand through the trees on the side of the road, I navigated my way round to the open turnstile and gained access using my newly acquired scouting pass for this fixture. Unfortunately, it's not really a pass of sorts, merely a printed out email, but I had to spice that little anecdote up somehow.
AFC Totton, originally named Totton Football Club, were founded in 1886, and like many non-league sides, have done the rounds in many different leagues due to restructuring work of the English Pyramid, promotions and so on and so forth. Starting out in the Hampshire and New Forest Leagues, the club became one of the Wessex League founder members in the 1986/87 season, before making the jump into the Southern League for the 2007/08 campaign. 2011 saw the club crowned champions of the South and West Division, but alongside Bashley last season, they too faced relegation after a long campaign and find themselves in the Southern South and West tier for at least the duration of the 2014/15 campaign.
In all honesty though, Testwood probably deserves football at a higher level than it currently hosts. An apparent capacity of 3,000, it could in my opinion easily take on Conference South level games. As you can see in the picture above, the main stand holds a good number of spectators, and the standing room around the perimeter of the pitch is very well marshalled to ensure safety for all. It's generally a very good set up, and I applaud the club for that. One real negative I'd give though, the club shop is a damn sight more expensive than it maybe needs to be. I noted an £11 price tag on scarves, £11! Steady on over there ladies and gents, that one gave me a bit of a nosebleed.
In all honesty though, Testwood probably deserves football at a higher level than it currently hosts. An apparent capacity of 3,000, it could in my opinion easily take on Conference South level games. As you can see in the picture above, the main stand holds a good number of spectators, and the standing room around the perimeter of the pitch is very well marshalled to ensure safety for all. It's generally a very good set up, and I applaud the club for that. One real negative I'd give though, the club shop is a damn sight more expensive than it maybe needs to be. I noted an £11 price tag on scarves, £11! Steady on over there ladies and gents, that one gave me a bit of a nosebleed.
The game itself wasn't exactly the end-to-end spectacular that I'd have liked, but it was certainly far from boring. Both sides created chances, and in truth the result could have gone either way. Supermarine captain Dave Bampton was forced off after 20 minutes having been clattered by a heavy Nathan Hurst challenge in the air, for which the midfielder was booked, before Supermarine took the lead after half hour. Harry Etheridge found space at the far post, and was able to tuck home the cross, much to the delight of the travelling contingent.
In the second half, the tempo of the game was much the same, but there was a ten minute spell when things really felt like a true cup tie, after Totton skipper Rob Flooks deservedly received his marching orders having effectively thrown his toys out of the pram. With ten minutes to play, Sam Morris found space on the edge of the area for Supermarine, and his driven shot across Steve Mowthorpe found the bottom corner, killing the game off, and winning Supermarine £3,000 worth of prize money in the process.
Full-time score;
AFC Totton 0-2 Swindon Supermarine (Attendance: 254)
(Etheridge 30', Morris 80')
In the second half, the tempo of the game was much the same, but there was a ten minute spell when things really felt like a true cup tie, after Totton skipper Rob Flooks deservedly received his marching orders having effectively thrown his toys out of the pram. With ten minutes to play, Sam Morris found space on the edge of the area for Supermarine, and his driven shot across Steve Mowthorpe found the bottom corner, killing the game off, and winning Supermarine £3,000 worth of prize money in the process.
Full-time score;
AFC Totton 0-2 Swindon Supermarine (Attendance: 254)
(Etheridge 30', Morris 80')
It was a day of good spirit, as it so should be in the FA Cup. Some of the more hardened Totton fans will disagree with me, but I thought Swindon probably just about edged things going forward. I even managed to note down a couple of my favourite moments of the season so far, most notably when Flooks flipped his lid after being booked for the first time, as one intuitive Supermarine fan began a 'back to school on Monday' ditty. I even managed to hunt down the number plate dugouts, which did make me chuckle for some reason.
Ground 24 ticked off, and match 23 watched. Cheers Totton!
Sheridan
Ground 24 ticked off, and match 23 watched. Cheers Totton!
Sheridan