Sholing v. AFC Varsity 

Second Qualifying Round 

Portsmouth Road, Sholing

Sunday 22nd September 2024

It was not my intention to do a "winner stays on" style route to Wembley, just a happy coincidence that First Qualifying Round winners AFC Varsity feature again.

An ongoing theme seems to be inclement weather. Today whilst writing this pre-match section it's thunder and biblical rain, meaning I am wetter than an otters pocket.

Thankfully, the sun appeared on my final 15-minute leg of the walk from the station and I made it into the Mortgage Decisions Stadium without further drenchings. 

And what a brilliant enclosure set beside a field of corn by the looks of it!

Onto the game, few chances in the first half the best one taken by the home side to lead one nil at the interval. 

An early opportunity for AFC to equalise after the break was not taken and after a number of chances for Sholing saw them extend their lead, and despite valiant effort, Varsity did not quite have enough against their higher ranked opponents. A flurry of goals (and a missed penalty) in the last quarter of the game gave the score line a slightly flattering look.

FT. Sholing 6 AFC Varsity 0