Sholing 1-1 North Leigh

Scorers : Dan Mason 92 / Osborne-Ricketts 30

Date : Wednesday 13th August 2014 - 7.45pm kick off - Southern League South & West

Sholing : Brown, Fennemore, Cox, Mott, Cuthbertson, Brewster, Byron Mason (c), Barry Mason (Marv Mclean 65), Baldacchino (Lynch 68), Watts, Sawyer (Dan Mason 57 - Yellow Card). Subs Not used : Manders, Byrne

North Leigh : Bulman, Else (Caton 77), Woodley, Osbourne-Ricketts (Ingram 88), Gunn, Westlake, Woodley, Hole, Williams (Bowles 77), Sanders, McNish (Yellow Card).  Sub not used: Eadie

Ultras Man of the Match : Stuart Mott

Lee Wort Man of the Match : Lewis Fennemore

Referee :Mark Lucie. Assistants : Paula Wyatt, Derek Hughes

Attendance : 108

Match Report Sponsored by :  dansach-logo

Sholing grabbed a last-gasp point when substitute Dan Mason struck in added time.  It was a battling draw with both sides having plenty of chances, but the the manner of the late goal will certainly make the result feel better for the Boatmen.

Sholing were forced into a last minute change when Danny Cox was drafted in for Jack Smith.  That was the only change from Saturday's draw at Shortwood in the starting eleven, but Marv McLean & Nathan Lynch returned to take places on the bench. Sholing started on top and after 6 minutes hit the post when Fennemore strode onto a loose ball to hammer a 25 yard shot that beat the keeper all ends up but cannoned off the upright. Matt Brown was called into action a minute later when he comfortably saved a North Leigh shot from the edge of the area.  Shooting from outside the area was popular and next to have a go was Barry Mason who rifled over.  

Some lovely interplay on 21 minutes saw Byron Mason get into the area and slide in Alex Baldacchino, who from a very tight angle shot across the face of the goal and just beyond the far post. The visitors were next to threaten and Matt Brown had to get down at his near post to tip an effort for a corner, from which, North Leigh had a header drift wide at the far post.  However, they were to take the lead on 30 minutes when the ball fell into the path of Osbourne-Ricketts to hit a sweet half volley rising shot that powered past Brown into the net.  Sholing tried to hit back on 38 minutes with a shot by Byron Mason that was tipped over the bar.  The Boatmen had loud appeals for handball in the area, turned down by the referee and then from a Brewster corner, Barry Mason's near post header was well saved right on the line by the North Leigh Keeper.  HT 0-1

North Leigh started the second half strongly, seeing a cross-shot go just wide and then from a route-one kick from their keeper, Matt Brown had to save well.  The long ball tactic worked again, but this time the effort on goal was deflected wide for a corner.  They really should have took advantage of being in control of the game, but on 54 minutes were guilty of a bad miss when Sholing's defence was opened up, but despite being unmarked at the far post, the North Leigh player slid his shot just wide. All Sholing could muster was a low shot from Byron Mason that was comfortably saved.  

Changes were needed and Dan Mason replaced Alex Sawyer on 57 minutes & Marv McLean replaced Barry Mason to add some more forward threat. There was a scramble from a Sholing corner, the ball pinged around, but was eventually cleared.  Another change on 68 minutes with Nathan Lynch replacing Baldacchino up front. Kev Brewster's delivery from corners was threatening, but Byron Mason's header at the far post dropped wide.  The game was getting scrappy and more physical and Dan Mason was booked for a late challenge down by the corner flag.

North Leigh could sense they were closing in on a win & were happy to take as much time as possible out of the game. On 89 minutes it looked as though Sholing had missed their big chance when from a corner, Fennemore flicked a header from 8 yards out that went agonisingly wide.  However, Sholing are never beaten until the ref blows the final whistle and 2 minutes into stoppage time, Byron Mason did well inside the area to lay the ball back into the path of Dan Mason, who from 22 yards out hit a powerful daisy-cutter that arrowed into the far corner to signal wild celebrations.  There was even time left for some panic in the North Leigh defence with a skied clearance looping towards goal, but the keeper got back to tip it over the bar.  FT 1-1

A draw was probably a fair result when you compare chances created.  North Leigh controlled too many periods of the game to Sholing's liking, but the substitutions gave us a bit more energy & physical threat.  Good to see the strong Sholing spirit still evident & in some ways, getting an equaliser so late on almost makes it feel like a win.  Very early days, some more players to return to the squad & others getting fitter.  Another home game this Saturday against Stratford, 3pm kick off. 

Photos by Ray Routledge (Click a Thumbnail to Enlarge)

North Leigh Match Report