Match Report – Team Solent vs Tadley Calleva

Team Solent booked their place in the semi-finals of the Sydenhams League Cup after a hard-fought cup tie against lower league opposition, Tadley Calleva.

The sides couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes, with the scores tied at 1-1 in a feisty affair.

It took a couple of exceptional saves from Team Solent goalkeeper Bradley Banda in the penalty shoot-out, alongside the cool heads of the Solent students to fire their side into the semi-finals.

This was the third shootout in four cup ties that Solent were able to gain victory in.

The Sparks took an early lead after James Orvis fired in the rebound to his previous shot that had hit the post.

The remainder of the first half was a tight affair, with neither side particularly troubling either of the keepers.

The Tadders piled on the pressure in the second half, and finally broke Solent’s resilience ten minutes from time as James Tennant rose highest to head home for the away side.

They had further chances to win the cup tie but Banda was on hand to rescue Solent.

Though the teams couldn’t be separated in normal time, the shoot-out showed the gulf in class between the two sides, who are a division apart.

Banda’s heroics left captain Jesse Waller-Lassen the chance to win the tie, which he did after an audacious panenka chip down the middle.

Penalty scorer, Jamel Wiseman spoke after the game about the performance and his spot-kick: “They came with a game plan and we were nowhere near our best today, we looked sluggish everywhere but we still managed to get the result.

“I’m always quite confident with penalties. If you choose the way you want to go and stick it hard and low, you should score, there’s no chance they’ll save it.”

Holders Team Solent will now head into the semi-finals against Sholing, with Wiseman saying the team will be confident: “We can definitely win the cup, we won it last year, and with the league out of our reach now I think, the main focus is winning the two cups.”