Match Report – Team Solent vs Hythe and Dibden
Team Solent ease through to the fourth round of the Southampton Senior Cup, scoring four past Hythe and Dibden FC.
It was the away side that made the most of the early stages, with the first notable chance falling on 11 minutes.
Conor Lopez found space in the box and found room to shoot. His attempt hit the post and was cleared away by a chasing Solent defence.
Julian Stahler advances up the pitch. (Credit: Tom Mulholland)
But it was the home side that took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark. A corner played in by Ethan Taylor caused a scramble in the Hythe box. James Bruce came out to punch the ball clear but misconnected as he had to watch it fall into his own net.
On the 23-minute mark, Solent could have had a penalty. Julian Stahler fell inside the area and the referee initially gave The Sparks a spot-kick. However, following a discussion with his linesman, the referee decided to award a corner instead.
Hythe came back into the game and could have levelled the scores on 34 minutes. Steve Marwood rose above the Solent defence, but his header fell straight into the arms of Bradley Banda.
Yet it was the team in red who took a two-goal lead into the break. On 36 minutes Giovanni Landu found space on the edge of the area before he unleashed a shot past Bruce.
The second-half started as brightly as the first, with both sides creating multiple chances. Jemal Wiseman shot from inside the area and forced the visiting stopper to push the ball away.
Jim Orvis proved a busy servant on the right flank. (Credit: Tom Mulholland)
Solent came close to making it three just before the hour mark. Taylor put an inviting ball into the box, which found captain Curtis Thorn who headed just wide.
The game started to open up just after the hour, with Hythe attempting to get back into the tie.
Luke Watts managed to break free on 61 minutes, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Five minutes later and a cross from the right saw Barrie Matthews fire just wide for the away side.
The pressure was soaked up by Solent and they grabbed their third on 77 minutes. A neat through-ball found substitute Jake Willis-Dellimore who converted the ball home.
The Sparks sealed the game in the 81st minute. There were multiple players in red teed up to strike the ball, but it was Wiseman who got his foot onto it first to make it 4-0.
Solent now await the draw for the next round of the competition they were two-time holders of before being beaten finalists to Sholing 3-1 last year.
