Southampton: End of Season one

Welcome to the end of season one. It’s been a long journey but we really are in a promising position, Top of the league by 9 points with a play-off place guaranteed and in the final of the Johnstones Paint Trophy. And it’s in that Final we shall begin.
Peterborough United Vs Southampton
Date: 03.04.2011
Competition: Johnstones Paint Trophy
Round: Final
Location: Wembley, London

Line Up: Davis, Richardson, DeMerit, Fonte, Dickson, Dabo, Livermore, Puncheon, Baxter, Lallana (Dorado 78), Barnard (Lambert 90)

So it all came down to this. Peterborough looked strong but I had faith in my boys. We started out on top and took the lead on 14 minutes through Jason Puncheon. The winger thumping home a Lee Barnard cross. We continued to Push but found Joe Lewis in outstanding form. This continued into the second half. We kept pushing for the second goal but it wouldn’t come, but we knew we were shutting Peterborough out of the game. When the final whistle went there was jubilation all round. I had my first taste of silverware.

Final Score: Peterborough United 0 – 1  Southampton

Bristol Rovers Vs Southampton
Date: 06.04.2011
Competition: npower league 1
Match Day: 41
Location: The Memorial Stadium, Bristol

Line Up: Davis, Richardson (Geary 69), DeMerit, Fonte, Dickson, Dabo (Baxter 87), Schneiderlin, Dossevi, Dorado (Barnard 69), Puncheon, Lambert

Next it was an away trip to Bristol Rovers who had been up and down all year. We were told before hand that 9 points more would give us the league. We managed to take the lead on 18 minutes through Rickie Lambert. We continued to push for a second but we couldn’t find it. After the break Rovers came at us and Jo Kuffour scored twice to put Bristol in charge. One of his goals was truly astounding, he took it past 3 players before slotting home. Staring another defeat in the face we owed Derek Geary for getting us a point with an absolutely cracking volley. Not a bad goal for a full back.

Final Score: Bristol Rovers 2 – 2 Southampton
8 POINTS NEEDED TO WIN LEAGUE

Yeovil Town Vs Southampton
Date: 09.04.2011
Competition: npower league 1
Match Day: 42
Location: Huish Park, Yeovil

Line Up: Davis, Richardson, DeMerit (Fonte 34), Jaidi, Harding, Dossevi (Puncheon 81), Baxter, Dorado, Basturk, Lallana, Barnard *MOM* (Lambert 71)

We were hoping to move 3 points closer to the league against bottom placed Yeovil Town. And a quickfire double definitely made that likely, Lee Barnard capitalising on a defensive error and Jose Baxter finishing from close range. And while we should have had more I will take 3 points over anything. And luckily for us our closest rivals Swindon and Peteborough both drew, dropping 2 points and taking us closer to that Title.

Final Score: Yeovil Town 0 – 2 Southampton
3 POINTS NEEDED TO WIN LEAGUE

Southampton Vs Notts County
Date: 16.04.2011
Competition: npower league 1
Match Day: 43
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Line Up: Davis, Richardson, DeMerit Fonte, Harding *MOM*, Livermore, Dabo, Dossevi (Puncheon 75), Baxter (Seuntjens 75), Lallana (Dorado 86), Barnard

Knowing a win would seal us the table. We welcomed Notts County who still harboured slim hopes of a play off position. The first half was a bit dull but just after the break a Dan Harding cross was headed home by Lee Barnard and we had the breakthrough. We kept pushing for more but we were happy with one. We had the 3 points we needed and the full time whistle was met with rapturous applause and cheering. We had done it. We had won the league with 3 games to go.

Final Score: Southampton 1 – 0 Notts County

SOUTHAMPTON WIN THE NPOWER LEAGUE 1

The rest of the games aren’t worth talking about as they were just played out with reserve players.

Exeter City 1 – 0 Southampton

Southampton 0 – 1 Swindon Town

Leyton Orient 0 – 2 Southampton

April & May review:
League position: 1st
Month Form: W D W W L L W
Top Goal scorer: Lee Barnard (24)
Highest Average: Jay DeMerit (7.51)