Sholing1 0BemertonHeath

Scorers :  Kev Brewster 7 (pen)

Date : Saturday 5th December 2015 - 3pm kick off - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Kevin Brewster (Owen Roundell 60), Dean Faithfull, Dan Miller, James Davis, Alex Sawyer, Marv McLean, Byron Mason [c], Barry Mason, Doug Rowe (Jamie Bulpitt 66), Jake Hoole (Nick Yeomans 57) Subs not used: Lewis Kelly, Jordan Brooks

Yellow Card : 

Bemerton Heath :  Joe Prodomo, Dan Thompson, Seb Dawes, Tom Roberts, Tom Biles, Graham Mankin [c] (Jack Eves 84), James Burden, Sam Griffin, Russell Cook (Josh Hazell 84), Lewis Cook, Jack Lovall  Subs not used: Will Robinson, Jack Slade

Yellow Card : Tom Roberts

Attendance : 57

Man of the Match : Dean Faithfull

Referee : Dave Cotton  Assistants: Guy Poynter & Michael Ridge

AN early Kevin Brewster penalty set Sholing on their way to three points, at a game with 57 fans and one unwelcome visitor. Desmond, the latest storm to hit the UK, caused havoc at both ends and disrupted what started as a very end-to-end fixture.

Team News : Dan Mason was once again left out through injury, but watched on from the sidelines with fellow injured teammate, Jack Smith.  However, both stand a chance of returning to action next week.  Barry Mason went up top with Doug Rowe as Jake Hoole came in on the wing and Jamie Bulpitt dropped to the bench.

Sholing started brightly despite the blustery conditions. Barry Mason, replacing brother Dan upfront, scuffed his first shot but won his side a corner to highlight the home sides opening dominance. The opening exchanges looked lively, with left sided combination play between James Davis and Jake Hoole seeming the most likely source of the opener.

And after seven minutes the Boatmen opened the scoring. After a neat flick from Byron Mason, Doug Rowe’s run into the box was brought to halt, after his shirt was clearly pulled by Tom Roberts. The referee blew, providing KEV BREWSTER with a chance to atone for his missed penalty in the shootout in midweek. The rightback duly obliged, tucking his spot kick into the bottom left hand corner.

Barry Mason had a chance to double the lead, but his volley, though wide, showed the rewards for the sides high pressing. Jake Hoole and Alex Sawyer - returned to his favoured central midfield role - both saw their shots blocked and when Marv McLean was sent through on goal, when he shaped to cut back inside when one-on-on he was denied by a last ditch tackle.

But Bemerton slowly grew into the game. Impressive forward Lewis Cook looked as though he may hold the key to unlocking the Sholing defence. Ryan Gosney was first drawn into action by his well struck shot after 20 minutes. Five minutes later his left-sided cross evaded anybody, and when Sam Griffin was played through by captain Graham Mankin it took a perfectly timed Dean Fatihfull tackle to clear the danger.

Rowe’s tireless legwork almost saw him turn in Alex Sawyers cross, and his deft header onto Barry Mason almost led to Sholing’s seconds. However after receiving the ball and racing towards goal, he had to watch as his thunderous shout came crashing off the underside of the crossbar.  HT 1-0

Bemerton, with the wind behind them now, started brightly in the second half, Tom Biles sent in the first of several testing balls for Gosney. And Sholings ‘keeper was almost caught out, as Sam Griffin attempted a cheeky cushioned volley from 35 yards. Luckily for Gosney the wind carried it well wide.

As both sides battled with typhoon-like conditions neither side could find their rhythm. While the Harlequins were industrious without product, the Boatmen couldn't capitalise on the chances they created.

Barry returned a favour, by flicking the ball onto Doug Rowe, and the number 10 stung the palms of Joe Prodomo. However he didn't last much longer, and after feeling a tweak in his hamstring in the first half, he was replaced by Jamie Bulpitt.

Nick Yeoman, also introduced in the second half, came close to doubling the hosts lead. His glancing header from Brewster’s teasing cross drifted just wide. And his neat interplay with Barry Mason was unlucky not to reap its rewards. Mid-way through the half McLeans low cross was somehow poked away from the toe of Barry Mason to prevent a certain goal.

And with ten minutes left on the clock, a high ball set up a race between Yeomans and Prodomo. Although the Sholing youngster got his toe to the ball first the wind wasn't in his favour, and blew away from the outstretched McLean for a chance to finish the game.

Davis overlapping run and far-post drive, whistled past the far post and was yet another chance to finish Bemerton - who, despite forcing a few corners and lots of balls into the box, never looked like scoring against a resolute Sholing defence. FT 1-0

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)