WIFC got their 2016/17 season off on the right foot with a hard working 3-2 win on the south coast on Saturday morning. Stand-in manager Dave Messenger successfully rotated a 17 man squad and every player contributed to the win against a competitive Southampton side.

The visitors opened the scoring early on, as man of the match Charlie Wood collected a pass from Mark O’Connor and finished calmly. The Saints were back on terms shortly afterwards but Richard Murphy rounded the home keeper on the half hour mark to re-take the lead. After the break, Stuart Nicholls crashed home a third from a half-cleared corner, though he later put through his own net to give Southampton a lifeline. Some solid defending saw WIFC hang on for the win and complete a deserved win.

Team. 4-4-2, R to L. Neil Hall; Cleveland Brandy, John Sitkowski, Ben Bateman, Matt Ainsley; Richard Murphy, Ally Hill, Charlie Wood, Lamar St Cyr; Steve Eustice, Mark O’Connor. Subs Rob Sterry, Stuart Nicholls, James Farnfield, Andrew Ibbot, Phil McBride, Tom Beck.