Scorers :  Graham Mankin 15  /  Dan Mason 49

Date : Tuesday 1st September 2015 - 7:45pm kick off - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Bemerton Heath Harelquins : Joe Podomo, Dan Thompson, Ryan Murray, Tom Roberts, Mitch Fear (Russell Cook 45), Graham Mankin, Will Robinson, Jack Lovell, Jack Slade [c], Tom Jeffes (Dan Steel 68), Josh Hazel (George Plank 84). Subs not used: Karl Matthew-Buss, James Burden

Yellow Card : Dan Steel

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Kevin Brewster, James Davis, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt (Alex Sawyer 55), Tobi Adekunle, Jack Smith, Dan Mason (Breon Graham 84), Byron Mason [c], Marv McLean (Barry Mason 22). Subs not used: Jack Shiner, Jordan Brooks

Yellow Card :

Attendance : 29 (17 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Dan Miller

Referee : Phillip Milton  Assistants: John Foster & Carl Rooney

This was certainly a game of two halves, with Sholing lucky not to go in before the break more than one down with Ryan Gosney denying the host’s on several occasions. 2nd half Sholing looked more positive and Dan Mason continued his goalscoring run, scoring early in the half. The result overall was a fair reflection on the game.

Team News: With Dean Faithful and Lewis Kelly both unavailable, Dave Diaper made two changes from the cup defeat to Swindon Supermarine Tobi Adekunle and Byron Mason returning with Barry Mason and Alex Sawyer reverting to the bench there was also a place on the bench again for Breon Graham.

Sholing opened brightly and on two minutes Dan Mason didn’t connect to Kevin Brewster’s corner. Bemerton were awarded a free kick on six minutes, Ryan Gosney leapt to collect the ball, but spilled it before being cleared. Another deep cross into the Sholing box and Ryan Gosney punches clear only to Will Robinson who hits his shot wide. Bemerton were pressing hard for an opening and again it was Will Robinson in the thick of it but was penalized by referee Milton for a foul on James Davis. Another free kick was cleared by Dan Miller, followed by a corner that is headed away by Byron Mason. On fifteen minutes Tobi Adekunle was penalized for a foul out on the left the free kick was hit into the Sholing area and Graham Mankin got a flick on the ball that sent it spinning into the bottom corner to put Bemerton ahead.

Six minutes later Byron Mason was the meat of a Bemerton sandwich. Kevin Brewster took the free kick and Byron was thwarted by ex-Sholing player Mitch Fear, who got his head to the ball and conceded the corner. Dave Diaper was forced into an early change when Marvin McLean pulled up with a tight hamstring and was replaced by Barry Mason on 22 minutes.

Bemerton were keeping Sholing on the back foot and Owen Roundell cleared a long throw. Ryan Gosney then saved Jack Slade’s header. It was the turn of Dan Miller and Owen Roundell to clear the danger from a Bemerton counter attack. James Davis took a throw-in, got the return ball but under pressure lost the ball to Tom Jeffes but it was Dan Miller again who cleared his lines. Ryan Gosney had to be alert to deny Tom Jeffes again following his turn and shot. As the game approached half time Sholing began to make some positive progress. Tobi Adekunle intercepted a Bemerton throw in he appeared to get the ball tangled in his feet but manages to dribble through and gets a shot in with the ball rebounding to him again to shoot, but Dan Mason was adjudged to be offside. Ryan Gosney was again called upon to deny Bemerton from a corner.  HT 1-0

Both teams appeared on the pitch but had to wait for the match officials and before the game started, referee Milton donned an orange bib to enable players not to confuse him with the Bemerton home kit. Mitch Fear didn’t appear for the second half and was replaced by Russell Cook. After getting a flea in their ear from Dave Diaper at half time, The Boatmen started brightly after the restart and took just 4 minutes to draw level. Kevin Brewster's corner was met by the unmarked DAN MASON at the far post, who headed the ball past Joe Podomo.

Sholing won 3 consecutive corners, which were all scrambled clear. Ten minutes in, Sholing made their second change with Alex Sawyer replacing Jamie Bulpitt. Alex's first action was to steal the ball off Russell Cook and set the ball up but it came to nothing as brothers Byron and Dan challenged for the same ball. On 63 minutes there was a lengthy delay when both physios’ were needed to treat Bemerton players Tom Jeffes and Josh Hazel following their collision. Both players returned with Tom Jeffes looking more fragile than Josh Hazel. On 65 minutes Bemerton had a chance to take the lead when Jack Lovell dribbled his way through and set up Captain Jack Slade but he hit his shot over the Sholing bar. Eventually Tom Jeffes injury took its toll and he was replaced by Dan Steel.

Another Kevin Brewster corner finds Dan Miller but his header goes up in the air and Kevin Brewster follows it up but shoots over the bar. With ten minutes left a scare in the Sholing defence when Owen Roundell slips and lets in Jack Slade but the ever reliable, Dan Miller, intervenes.  Tobi Adekunle then had a chance to put Sholing in front but his shot was straight at the legs of the keeper, who gathered at the secon attempt.  Jack Smith received a lecture from referee Milton for a foul on Josh Hazel.  Dan Mason set up Tobi Adekunle whose shot was blocked by two Bemerton players, with handball appeals more in hope than expectation. Will Robinson’s glancing header was denied by Ryan Gosney.

On eighty four minutes Dan Mason received the ball, swivelled, but hit his shot was wide and that was his last piece of action being replaced by Breon Graham. Bemerton made their final change with George Plank replacing Josh Hazel. 2 later the first caution went to Dan Steel for his foul on Breon Graham. Bemerton were angry with referee Milton when he failed to play an advantage when they won the ball, Russell Cook hit the freekick wide. In the closing seconds Ryan Gosney got the ball to Barry Mason who found Byron Mason and he put in Breon Graham but he dragged his shot well wide. Jack Slade had a chance with an overhead kick but his effort sailed high & wide. FT 1-1

View from the Stands :  A draw was a fair result, but Sholing will be annoyed with how we started the game and let the hosts take control for most of the first half.  Has been a theme this season that we have started away games slowly, instead of taking the game by the scruff of the neck. We were thankful for Ryan Gosney keeping the score down and for Dan Miller having yet another strong game in the middle of defence.  

Second half was much better, more passion and movement and after we got the equaliser, thought we'd go on to win.  However, credit to Bemerton for defending well and Sholing didn't get enough efforts on target to merit the 3 points.

Thanks to the Sholing fans for making the trip and literally, doubling the attendance.  Have some sympathy for Bemerton, playing at home the same night as Salisbury, seems a poor bit of fixture management by the League.  Thanks to the Bemerton committee & staff for their hospitality.

Next home game is on Wednesday 9th September against Brockenhurst, 7:45pm