SHOLING Youth FC were not going to let the small matter of a frozen pitch stand in the way of them hosting some very special visitors on Saturday night.

The Boatmen’s under-18 development squad had been due to bring a flavour of the Far East to the Universal Stadium with an international friendly against Kagoshima United under-18s from Japan.

And although freezing temperatures put paid to their first-team fixture against Sydenhams Premier leaders Moneyfields, Sholing were able to shift the evening friendly to the 3G surface at Southampton Solent University’s Test Park ground.

A J3 Japanese League side, Kagoshima initially had hopes of playing a Saints academy/development team. They are friends with the Premier League club's Japan defender Maya Yoshida.

The team were visiting the city as part of a trip, organised by the Football Samurai Youth Academy, to commemorate the first Japanese students coming to the UK just over 150 years ago.

The 19 Satsuma students arrived in Southampton from Kagoshima on a steamship named The Australian in 1865.

Sholing captain Cameron Ross exchanged pennants with his opposite number prior to a well-contested game played in chilly conditions at Test Park.

It was the Japanese youngsters that edged it 3-2 thanks to a Hyeongin Cho hat-trick. Jake Robinson and Fraser McLean netted the Boatmen’s replies.

A tweet posted by Sholing Youth FC said: “Thank you to Kagoshima Utd FC a fantastic team. The game played in great spirit. We wish you a safe journey home & hopefully see you again.”