B Team Report: Saints stroll to victory at Snows

By SFC Media time Fri 12 Aug Saints vs West Brom
Photo by Chris Moorhouse
Fri 12 Aug 7PM
Premier League 2 - Division 2
Southampton
4
West Bromwich Albion
1
Ballard [41' 57'] Carson [64'] Finnigan [89']
goal
Higgins [11']
Referee: James Durkin | Venue: Snows Stadium | Attendance: 239

Southampton's B team made it two-from-two in Premier League 2 on Friday night, seeing off West Brom with a dominant 4-1 victory.

West Brom profited from a bright start to the game on 11 minutes as Akeel Higgins finished from close range.

Despite being second best for much of the half Dave Horseman’s side drew level just four minutes shy of the break, Dom Ballard flashing past the keeper after a dinked through ball from Jimmy-Jay Morgan.

The same two combined early into the second half to turn the game on its head, Ballard this time chipping the goalkeeper after being put through one-on-one.

A third followed seven minutes later, full-back Matt Carson heading home from close range at the back post.

The dominance didn’t stop there, substitute Ryan Finnigan adding a fourth via a deflection with one minute of normal time to play.

Saints made three changes to the side who won at Forest on opening day, the most notable being the inclusion of summer signing Mateusz Lis between the sticks.

Elsewhere in came Matt Carson and Morgan in place of Kayne Ramsay and Jake Vokins respectively.

West Brom started the game brightly and could’ve gone ahead on seven minutes. Tom Fellows looking to square the ball into the path of Mo Faal but mishitting his low pass.

But the Baggies soon got their reward for a positive start, Higgins finding space inside the box and flashing his shot past Lis on 11 minutes.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: PL2 match between Southampton B and West Bromwich Albion on Friday 12th August 2022, at Snows Stadium, Totton, Southampton, England. (Photo by Chris Moorhouse/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Diamond Edwards beats his man during the first 45.

With the temperatures failing to drop Saints attempted to mount a fightback, in what was a stop-start first 45.

Diamond Edwards was at the heart of everything positive as far as Dave Horseman’s side were concerned.

After 35 minutes the forward used his quick feet and close control to skip past two men, before feeding Dom Ballard who forced Ronnie Hollingshead into a strong stop.

With the half drawing to a close West Brom looked to have the game under control, until a moment of magic from young Morgan.

The exciting youngster dinked a ball over the top of the Baggies defence into the path of the prolific Ballard, who slotted his chance under Hollingshead for the equaliser.

Saints could have turned the game on its head before the break, skipper Lewis Payne breaking down the right and flashing a chance across the face of goal which went narrowly wide.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: PL2 match between Southampton B and West Bromwich Albion on Friday 12th August 2022, at Snows Stadium, Totton, Southampton, England. (Photo by Chris Moorhouse/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Saints celebrate Dom Ballard's equaliser.

Buoyed by their strong finish to the first, Saints started the second half with a bang.

The same two combined on 58 minutes to put the hosts ahead, a low through ball from Morgan this time finding Ballard, who chipped his effort over the keeper with confidence.
Horseman’s side continued their dominance as the hour mark came and went, adding a third on 64 minutes.

Edwards dinked a ball towards the far post, where full-back Carson was ready and waiting to head home from close range.

The quick-fire goals at the start of the second put Saints in cruise control at Snows Stadium, meaning Horseman could ring the changes.

Finnigan, Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo and Luke Pearce were amongst those who took to the field, looking to extend their side’s advantage as the heat, thankfully, died down.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: PL2 match between Southampton B and West Bromwich Albion on Friday 12th August 2022, at Snows Stadium, Totton, Southampton, England. (Photo by Chris Moorhouse/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Dom Ballard wheels away after his second of the evening.

They came closest after a superb team move on 87 minutes, starting from the full-back position and reaching the penalty area inside six seconds. Unfortunately, the final shot from Pearce was deflected wide.

It was on the cards and the fourth soon followed with a minute of normal time to play, Finnigan letting fly from the edge of the box and seeing his deflected effort beat a helpless Hollingshead.

There were chances for a fifth in additional time, Ballard understandably eager for that hat-trick.

But ultimately Saints gladly settled for a three-goal advantage, making it two wins from two in Premier League 2.

Next up is a trip to Stoke City on Friday 19th August at 7pm BST.

Southampton

Head to Head Stats

West Bromwich Albion
  • Possession (%)
    57
    comparison angle
    43
  • Shots
    18
    comparison angle
    6
  • Shots on target
    8
    comparison angle
    2
  • Corners
    4
    comparison angle
    3
  • Passes Complete
    0
    comparison angle
    0

Southampton U21

1
Mateusz Lis (GK)
5
Dynel Simeu
4
Nico Lawrence
replace Will Tizzard (91′)
2
Lewis Payne (C)
3
Matthew Carson goal
10
Diamond Edwards
6
Cameron Bragg
replace Ryan Finnigan (78′) goal
11
Jimmy Morgan
replace Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo (79′)
8
Jack Turner
9
Dominic Ballard goal goal
7
Sam Bellis
replace Luke Pearce (53′)
13
Ollie Wright
14
Luke Pearce
15
Will Tizzard
16
Ryan Finnigan
12
Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo

West Bromwich Albion U21

1
Ronnie Hollingshead (GK)
5
Ethan Ingram
3
Josh Shaw
6
Cianole Nguepissi
2
Alex Williams
11
Jovan Malcolm
replace Kevin Mfuamba (72′)
7
Tom Fellows
4
Harry Whitwell
8
Jamie Andrews (C)
9
Mo Faal
10
Akeel Higgins goal
replace Fenton Heard (80′)
16
Evan Humphries
12
Fenton Heard
15
Narel Phillips
13
Ben Cisse
14
Kevin Mfuamba

Related

Match Pack: Saints vs Leeds
chevron right
B Team Highlights: Saints 4-1 West Brom
Saints vs West Brom

B Team Highlights: Saints 4-1 West Brom

Full highlights from Friday night's PL2 win

timeSat 13 Aug
photo B Team Gallery: Saints 4-1 West Brom Video: Ballard on goalscoring start
U18 Report: Saints suffer heavy Palace defeat
Saints vs Crystal Palace

U18 Report: Saints suffer heavy Palace defeat

Youngsters well-beaten at Staplewwod

time17 hours ago
Match Pack: West Ham vs Saints Tactical Watch: Standing up to set-piece threat