Team Solent 1 AFC Portchester 3
Former Wembley winner Graham Rix exorcised a Caspar-sized ghost as his AFC Portchester team beat Team Solent 3-1 in the sort of FA Cup tie that throws up stories of the weird and wonderful variety.
Rix’s place in FA Cup history is enshrined thanks to his dramatic last-minute cross turned in by Alan Sunderland to snatch a 3-2 win for Arsenal over Manchester United in the 1979 FA Cup final.
In all, Rix appeared in three finals but his last involvement in the FA Cup, before AFC Portchester’s first win in the competition at Team Solent, was as Portsmouth manager in 2002 when the then Championship side were dumped out 4-1 by Leyton Orient, who were bottom of the Football League.
“That was my last involvement,” recalled Rix. “I remember it only too well,” he said with a wry smile.
After Portsmouth, Rix’s coaching career took in Oxford, Hearts, and – most recently – Central in Trinidad & Tobago’s TTPro League.
Now back in the UK, his current FA Cup journey began at the earliest possible step, an Extra Preliminary round tie at Team Solent, who play a division below Portchester in the Sydenham’s Wessex League.
It was a historic day for Team Solent, the club based at Southampton Solent University.
Their status in Wessex League Division One entitled them to a first venture into the FA Cup.
To mark the occasion, they had the trophy itself on display, for all and sundry to take a pic with, and also lined up Southampton’s 1976 Cup-winning manager Lawrie McMenemy – an honorary graduate of the university – to pose for photos.
Solent were proud and pumped for their first appearance in the FA Cup, even if it did end in defeat to the Wessex Premier League side.
Portchester swept into a sixth minute lead when Louis Castles – who was to prove a thorn in Solent’s side all afternoon – was on hand at the far post to crisply finish on the half volley after Liam Horstead picked him out.
Solent gained international clearance on Wednesday for Kazu Ito, a 20-year-old who is taking a Football Studies degree after being rejected by his Japanese Second Division club, and his first competitive game in England was in the FA Cup.
In impeccable English, he said;
“I haven’t been able to play in any of the league games so far, but when I was told today I was playing, I couldn’t believe it.
“Everybody back in Japan knows the FA Cup, it’s the most famous cup competition in the world, and I can now tell everyone that I have played in it.”
Ito was undressed on occasions in the first half, but grew into the game and showed a neat touch and good pace going forward.
Solent struggled to carve out any clear-cut chances, but striker Mike Wheeler was denied by a great save by Luke Hutching before Castles wasted a chance to double Portchester’s lead before half-time.
Castles latched on to a loose back-pass and rounded keeper Tom Taylor, only to lose his balance and miss his kick with the goal at his mercy.
That could have proved costly as Solent drew level two minutes into the second half when Matt Sheedy’s cross was met at the far post by Dan Brunnen whose volleyed finish smacked more of a striker than central defender.
Portchester showed the gap between the Wessex League Premier Division and the first as they began to ask questions of Solent, although they continued to be wasteful in front of goal.
A mix-up between Brunnen and keeper Taylor presented Liam Horsted with a gift-wrapped chance on the hour, but Taylor stuck out a foot to save.
Jamie Musselwhite than sprung Solent’s offside trap but with Taylor stranded curled his effort over the bar.
Kirby was in no mood to put in overtime in a reply and another bout of misunderstanding in the Solent defence presented the ball to Musselwhite whose mis-hit shot turned into a perfect pass for Kirby to turn the ball in.
And Kirby wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when Castles outstripped Josh Watson and steadied himself before pulling the ball back for Kirby to slot home from close range.
Solent’s first affair with the FA Cup was a brief flirtation, but Rix can now look forward to the next round, even if Wembley is still a small dot on the horizon.
By John May
This photograph was provided by Jim Moran.
