Scorers : Owen Roundell 61
Date : Tuesday 26th April 2016 - 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier
Newport IW : Streeter, Quigley (Powell 81), Oatley (C), Pearce, McDonough, Taylor (Newbold 87), Bennett, Triggs, Butcher (Kelly 62), Burton, McInnes. Subs not used: Linnington
Yellow Card : McDonough
Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Alex Sawyer, Marv McLean, Pete Castle, Owen Roundell, Kieran Winman (Kev Brewster 75), Barry Mason (Nick Yeomans 71), Byron Mason [c], Jamie Bulpitt, Zach Glasspool, Lee Wort. Subs not used: Jake Hoole, Liam Attrill, Jordan Brooks
Yellow Card : Zach Glasspool
Attendance : 68
Man of the Match : Byron Mason
Referee : Mike Desborough Assistants: Andrew Jones & Calum McFarlane
A goal from Owen Roundell was enough to secure Sholing victory at Newport IW. The centre back headed home from three yards on 61 minutes to move the Boatmen just a point behind second place Blackfield and Langley.
In what was a lacklustre first half, Newport had the first opportunity to open the scoring when Jimmi Burton turned and shot over the bar from 18 yards after nine minutes.
The game’s fierce weather was then transferred across to the players as an off-the ball altercation between Zach Glasspool and Martin McDonough saw both men into the book.
The hosts began to enjoy a good spell, but were unable to test Ryan Gosney, with the lively Joe Butcher latching onto a Tom McInnes through ball, but he was unable to turn the ball goalwards. The last five minutes of the half produced the best chances for the Boatmen and in particular Glasspool, who was in the thick of all the action.
He firstly produced a good low save from Newport ‘keeper Gary Streeter with a strong low shot. A couple of minutes later, the striker hit a timid free kick straight into the wall. But his best chance was just before the half-time whistle, but his lobbed effort sailed just too high onto the roof of the net. HT 0-0
The second half started similarly to the first, with no side taking a foothold of the game. Liam Triggs had the first real effort of the second period with a shot from 20 yards that sailed wide.
But after clever work from Marv Mclean on the left drew a free kick which brought the visitors the only goal of the game. Alex Sawyer whipped in a free kick which was cannoned onto the crossbar by Pete Castle, before falling kindly on the head of OWEN ROUNDELL who found the net from close range.
Three minutes later, the Boatmen had the ball in the net once again, only for the linesman to rule it out for offside.
Sholing remained in control until the final ten minutes, when Newport threw themselves forward in search of an equaliser. McInnes saw his free header dip wide before a free kick from Kelly was deflected wide.
Sholing held onto all three points despite the late flurry of corners into the box and will go into Thursday’s crucial match at home to Blackfield and Langley off the back of six consecutive wins. FT 0-1
Report by Liam Richner
Interview with Owen Roundell by Jack Prentice :
Owen Roundell was pleased with the three points after a scrappy 1-0 win away at Newport Isle of Wight. “Our goal is to go second, and tonight it was important. We needed those three points and it was a great win for us.
“We’ve got Blackfield and Langley (Who are a point above Sholing in 2nd) to come on Thursday can only concentrate on what we do and we can’t rely on them to drop points. We’ve got to do the best we can and see where we are after that.”
The centre-half was happy with a rare goal, but placed more importance on the clean sheet.
“A clean sheet is a defender’s dream so that was really important for us tonight. Getting on the scoresheet is great too but it’s all about the team performance tonight. “For the goal, I just stuck my head on it. It’s come back off the bar after that free kick, and they all count. I got a kick in the face too!”
The game was played in poor conditions as rain and hail fell almost relentlessly, but Roundell insists that despite having to change his boots they didn’t have much effect on the game.
“The ball did skid a bit which at times was harder to judge but the conditions didn’t really change a lot. “It was a bit slippery in the first half though and I did change my boots. The second half was easier.”
Last home game of the season is on Thursday v Blackfield & Langley (7:45pm)
Last game of the season is away to Fawley on Saturday (3pm)