Lack of goals worries Southam boss after heavy loss - The Leamington Observer

Lack of goals worries Southam boss after heavy loss

Leamington Editorial 5th Sep, 2016 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

SOUTHAM United boss Ian Ray lamented his side’s lack of clinical edge in front of goal after falling to a heavy 5-0 defeat away at Midland League Division One leaders Lichfield.

The visitors played well for long periods on Saturday but failed to find an all-important breakthrough as Ray’s side slipped to fourth league defeat of the season.

He said: “I am really pleased that things we have been working on in training are coming out on the pitch in spells which are getting longer from game to game.

“We do need to be more clinical in the final third though and will be working on this and am confident that we can pull it all together over the coming weeks.”




Saints started brightly and might have taken the lead in the fourth minute when a determined run down the right from Ross Knight set up Khamisi Lightbourne whose first time shot at the front post was just tipped on to the far post by Fryer in the home goal.

The game ebbed and flowed for the first 20 minutes with Southam having the majority of possession and debutant Kai Trappett settled in well but Lichfield were sharp on the counter.


Fryer again kept the game level in the 21st minute when he pushed away Knight’s free kick and only a few seconds later the hosts took the lead when the ball found it’s way to Ben Lund whose powerful shot gave Nathan Carro no chance in the Saints goal.

This gave the hosts more confidence and they doubled the lead on 32 minutes when a low shot from 25 yards from Thurstance skidded past Carro and nestled in the bottom corner.

Two more goals came before half time both as a result of good work from the overlapping left back Evans as Mortiboys tapped in and Lund converted an Evans cross.

Just before half time Fryer saved well from a finely struck free kick from Southam’s Knight.

The visitors again applied themselves well in the second half and should have got themselves on the scoresheet as sub Matt Omari somehow blazed over the bar when it looked easier to score the open goal.

Injuries then began to bite with skipper Nicholson hobbling off to be replaced by Saints’ third substitute only for Holland to sustain what appeared to be a serious looking injury causing Southam to play the last 20 minutes with only ten men.

Another good move almost resulted in a Southam goal but the chance got away and Lichfield scored a late fifth on the break when Griffiths scored after being set up by Thurstance.

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