TALKING POINTS

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

ASH ON TARGET

United striker Brad Ash made it four goals in four successive pre-season friendlies for the Gulls when he found the target on the hour mark. However, on another day he could have come away with a hat-trick.

Earlier in the match, he found himself in a one-on-one situation with Saints keeper Josh McNamara on 16 minutes, but he fired straight at the Saints’ custodian.

Then in the 33rd minute, he connected with a cross from Jack Stobbs and headed home what appeared to have been the goal that gave United the lead. However, his effort was ruled out for offside by what looked like the narrowest of margins. Even more frustratingly, Princewill Ehibhatiomhan scored the first of his two goals for the Saints a minute later and the Gulls were left wondering what could have been.

Nevertheless, the target now for Ash is to find the back of the net on his competitive debut against Dover on the opening day of the campaign.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF SAINTS

Youth development, it’s what Southampton do best. Many of English football’s leading talents of the past 30 years have progressed through the Saints youth system; it’s a list that includes Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier, Wayne Bridge, Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse amongst others.

If Saturday’s result for the young Saints against United is anything to go by, their production line isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, as there were a number of technically accomplished individuals on display.

The question is could the likes of Princewill Ehibhatiomhan and Tyler Dibling find themselves mentioned alongside the names listed above in the future?

If so, Saturday’s friendly could turn out to be an ‘I was there’ moment for those who witnessed them in action.

FINDING ANOTHER NICO

The loan signing of Nico Lawrence from Southampton was one of the major reasons Torquay United were able to go on the late run towards the end of the 2022-23 season, which almost saw them avoid relegation from the National League.

Lawrence will be continuing his footballing education on a season-long loan with Colchester United in League Two in the 2023-24 campaign. However, could one of the players on display against the Gulls be following the same path to Plainmoor that Lawrence took last season?

PROMISING CAMEO FROM WILL

After appearing as a sub in the second half against Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle loanee Will Jenkins-Davies was given a longer run-out against Southampton, as he replaced skipper Asa Hall at half-time.

Jenkins-Davies was arguably United’s star performer in the second 45 minutes, and assumed responsibility for most of the Gulls’ set pieces. He was also unlucky not to find target on 87 minutes, with a shot that hit the underside of the cross bar before bouncing clear.

He also had a hand in United’s goal as his corner was headed back across goal by Shaun Donnellan towards Brad Ash, who found the target.

Although Jenkins-Davies is following in the footsteps of Adam Randell, who joined United on loan from the Pigrims in the 2020-21 season – and is now a first team regular at Home Park, he is more similar in playing style to Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Armani Little. He is also more than capable of playing his way into the Gulls’ starting XI.

RETURN OF THE MOX

United’s final friendly also saw experienced defender Dean Moxey make his first appearance of their pre-season campaign, replacing Finley Craske with seven minutes to go.

Despite the fact that Moxey is the oldest player in the Gulls squad at the age of 37, he still has arguably the best football brain at the club, and displays the levels of awareness and anticipation that you would expect from a player who appeared 23 times in the Premier League for Crystal Palace earlier in his career.

His experience will be crucial to United’s back-line, as the only other player in the squad who can play at centre back over the age of 25 is Shaun Donnellan at 26.

Also, the chance to win promotion from National League South possibly represents the last opportunity that Moxey and skipper Asa Hall have of winning something in their respective careers, which will hopefully mean they will demand more from those around them.