SOUTHAMPTON 3 CITY 0
Canon League Division 1
7th September 1985
Attendance 14,308
Scorers Case(10), McCarthy(65 og), Lawrence(88)
Ref D Reeves
City Williams, May, Wilson, Clements, McCarthy, Phillips, Lillis, McNab, Kinsey, McIlroy, Simpson – Sub Melrose(72)
Southampton Shilton, Golac, Dennis, Case, Wright, Bond, Townsend, Curtis, Jordan, Armstrong, Wallace – sub Lawrence(82)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
IRELAND’S SATURDAY NIGHT 7TH SEPTEMBER 1985
Jimmy Case doubled his goal tally for Southampton when he drilled in a 25 yarder after ten minutes to give tangible evidence of Southampton’s superiority in a lively match at The Dell this afternoon.
Saints were so much in command that midfielfer McNab twice cleared dangerous moments as Wallace sent teasing crosses into City’s penalty area in this high speed duel in the sun.
Keeper Williams, tipped as an England possible, covered a header from Wright as it was almost a case of Southampton enjoying shooting practice.
The experience of Case and Armstrong was the key factor in midfield and the former Liverpool hero opened his account for the season when he let fly from a pass by Wallace to beat Williams all ends up.
Young Townsend was cutting his way through on course for a second goal after a quarter of an hour when long serving defender Clements produced a timely tackle.
City were finding the going tough and McIlroy and McNab could gain little advantage in midfield, although Simpson did manage a couple of runs down the left and he caused Shilton to stretch high to catch an in-swinging cross.
City started with more cohesion in the second half with Kinsey, Simpson and McNab working some fine openings, but Shilton was not over-extended in the Southampton goal, and City’s best effort was a 35 yard rasping shot from Phillips which flew just over the bar.
But once Southampton had contained City’s early burst they were back in the driving seat and in the 65th minute added a second goal when following a corner by Armstrong the ball flew off, hitting defender McCarthy into the net.
Though Manchester City brought on Melrose and took off McIlroy to pep up their attack they still could not make much impression on the sure-footed Southampton defence and ten minutes from time Lawrence, who had substituted for Jordan, added a third when he drove the ball home following yet another Southampton attack.
City were confined to sporadic attacks but Southampton were still looking good value for their first victory of the season and with time running out Lawrence put Wallace through, but the winger slipped at a crucial point in the penalty area and goalkeeper Williams came out to clear.