Alton2 1Sholing

Scorers :  Curtis Thorn 39 Adam Bicknell 71  /  Zac Mouland 31

Date : Saturday 16th July 2016 - 3pm - Friendly

Alton : Lee Allen, Adam Allaway, Jonny Way, Neville Roach, Rob Way, Ritchie Gatcum, Henry Hunter, Oli Graham, Henry Fox, Curtis Thorn, Kurt Greenaway (Capt), Subs from: Peter Millington-Lee, Chris Adams, Corey Cherrett, Josh Brewster, Adam Bicknell, Steve Graham, Dan Grey, Henry Salmon, Mark Taylor, James Johnson, Sean Hayes

Yellow Card : 

Sholing : Jordan Brooks (Josh Helm 45), Liam Attrill (Kieran Winman 56) Marvin Mclean, Pete Castle, Dan Miller, Jack Smith (Owen Roundell 56), Jake Hoole (Zach Glasspool 45), Byron Mason (Capt), Dan Mason (Sam Jenman 66), Zac Mouland, Jamie Bulpitt (Marc Diaper 74).  Unused Sub: Owen Royl

Yellow Card :

Attendance : 106 (Approx 30 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Jamie Bulpitt

Referee : Tom Moisey Asst Referees: Harry Fitzsimmons & Richard Lines.

Sholing got our 2016-17 season underway with a pre-season friendly on the all-weather surface at Wessex League One side Alton. Holidays meant a few regular players were unavailable; Ryan Gosney, Kevin Brewster, Barry Mason, Alex Sawyer, Nick Yeomans and long term injured Dan Dove.

Prior to kick off, Marc Diaper and Sam Jenman put pen to paper to sign for the Boatmen. Marc will predominantly be on the management support side, but has registered as a player to help out.  Sam was previously at Eastleigh.

Sholing lined up with Dan Mason & Zac Mouland spearheading the attack, Byron Mason led the midfield with Jack Smith, Jake Hoole and Jamie Bulpitt both playing wide. We kicked off on a very hot day bathed in sunshine, but soon the cloud cover gave it a muggy feel.  Sholing had an early scare when Alton charged down Jordan Brooks kick from a back pass but the ball fell away to safety. Sholing got settled into the game and got their passing game going and Jamie Bulpitt was very busy on the left wing with support from Jack Smith. Our irst chance came when Jake Hoole turned the full back then cut inside from the right but his effort was cleared for the first corner of the match, Jamie Bulpitt delivery was cleared for a second corner this was scrambled away and Bulpitt followed up but his shot was also blocked as Alton defended in a pack.

With changes to the laws of the game in place the first strange decision came when Byron Mason leapt and clearly won a header but was penalised when the Alton midfielder was adjudged to have been fouled when he made no attempt to challenge the header with the Sholing Captain.

Jamie Bulpitt was key in Sholing’s next attack but he was again halted when he was fouled two yards outside the area, Pete Castle took the free kick but put his effort just over Lee Allen’s crossbar. With Sholing pressing to find an opening the next chance fell to Alton when a counter attack found Henry Hunter bearing down on Jordan Brooks’ goal but a rush of blood saw his effort almost hit the corner flag.

On 31 minutes ZAC MOULAND scored on his debut when a goalmouth scramble was not cleared by the Alton defence and the ball fell to Zac Mouland who put it past Lee Allen. Sholing continued to press for a quick second goal, Zac Mouland fired wide with Allen to beat. Dan Mason was the next one to win another corner, Jamie Bulpitt delivery found Pete Castle's head but his effort was cleared. Jordan Brooks had another scare when for the second time in the match his clearance kick was charged down by Henry Fox but Fox was penalised in his attempt to capitalise on the loose ball.

On thirty nine minutes Curtis Thorn levelled for Alton when Marvin McLean cut out a pass but the ball fell into the path of Thorn who hit the ball past Jordan Brooks from twenty yards. Dan Mason had the opportunity to restore Sholing’s lead but hit his effort just wide.  Jamie Bulpitt corner found Dan Miller but the ball pinged off his knee from close range and over the bar. Final action of the first half saw Dan Mason set up his brother Byron whose shot edged wide of Allen’s upright. HT: 1-1

At the start of the second half Dave Diaper introduced Zac Glasspool for Jake Hoole and Jordan Brooks made way for former Swindon and Eastleigh goalkeeper Josh Helm to make his Boatmen debut. As with most friendlies many substitutes are used but confusion was applied by Alton early in second half by suddenly have two number tens and fourteens on the field of play. On fifty six minutes Dave Diaper made two more change Liam Attrill who had a knock to his ankle towards the end of the first half was replaced by Kieran Winman and Jack Smith playing his first competitive match in over four months made way for Owen Roundell.

On sixty minutes Dan Mason was fouled by the corner flag and appeared to have taken a heavy knock to his ankle gingerly continued without treatment. However as a precaution six minutes later former Eastleigh player Sam Jenman became the third Sholing debutant, replacing Dan Mason. On sixty nine minute a move down the right by Byron Mason and he cuts the ball back to Zach Glasspool but his header goes over from edge of the box.

On seventy one minutes a scruffy goal was scored by Alton when Josh Brewster's shot was going wide but was deflected to Adam Bicknell who put the ball past Josh Helm from close in. Three minutes later Dave Diaper made his final change bringing on Marc Diaper at left back and moving Marvin McLean up to his former position out on the wing.

With the Farnborough Air Show on just up the road the crowd were treated to fly pass by the Red Arrows late into the second half.

Sholing continued to press forward for an equaliser and Pete Castle saw his header go just wide. Then in the closing minutes Byron Mason got under the ball and put his header just wide. 

A good fitness workout for the players in our first game of pre-season with half of the team playing the full 90 mins.  Thanks to Alton for their hospitality and a good game, and for our fans for coming along to support the boys.  FT 2-1

Report by Greg Dickson

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)